MMA star Usman Nurmagomedov has questioned Gable Steveson's lack of MMA experience after his first professional loss.

At UFC 331, Gable Steveson's unbeaten record in mixed martial arts came to an incredibly abrupt end. After a tense build-up to his clash with Sean Sharaf, Gable wound up being knocked out cold within the first few seconds of their fight getting underway.

RELATED: Jon Jones mocked by Usman Nurmagomedov after ‘boyfriend' Gable Steveson's shocking loss

Jon Jones could only watch on in the corner as Gable Steveson's entire career flashed before his eyes. Of course, getting knocked out early in your run isn't unusual in this sport, but it's particularly bad when there's so much scrutiny around you even being in the UFC in the first place.

In a recent interview, Usman Nurmagomedov weighed in on the Gable Steveson debate and his experience level.

Usman Nurmagomedov's view on Gable Steveson

“He's an Olympic champion, but not in MMA, isn't he?†Nurmagomedov told Red Corner MMA of Steveson. “He's got no amateur experience, but as we all know, you have to have amateur experience as a fighter. One hundred fights at least. You have to feel it out, that stage, the MMA stage.

“And again, the very first punch landed, he didn't feel the distance. Yes, he's a good wrestler, an Olympic-level wrestler, but he's not a fighter nor a striker. But that is mixed martial arts, right? That includes everything. I wish him well, speedy recovery and future success. This is MMA. This kind of thing happens here.â€

Quotes via MMA Junkie

If Gable wants to get anywhere near the top of this division, he needs to make some big changes – and fast.

What do you think the ceiling is for Steveson in the Ultimate Fighting Championship? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

---

UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje has said that he believes Ilia Topuria is undersized for the 155-pound division.

Upon entering the UFC lightweight division, Ilia Topuria made a statement by knocking out Charles Oliveira to become a two-weight world champion. In his next outing, however, Topuria went on to lose the belt to Justin Gaethje in a dramatic main event at UFC Freedom 250.

RELATED: Justin Gaethje opens up on when he will decide about his next fight

While Ilia Topuria certainly had some bright moments in that fight, he also wound up quitting on the stool, and he took an incredible beating in the process that has altered the trajectory of his entire career.

In a recent interview, Gaethje explained why he thinks lightweight might be a step too far for Ilia Topuria.

Justin Gaethje on Ilia Topuria at lightweight

“I don't think he's a lightweight,†Gaethje said on the “Flagrant Podcast.†“I think he should go down. I think he can beat Volkanovski and be champion at featherweight. I don't think he'll ever be a champion at lightweight. He can't beat Arman (Tsarukyan). He's going to have a difficult time with Paddy (Pimblett). There's a bunch of dogs. This sport is crazy, so a little luck, a little chance is always involved. Can he get lucky, and is he skilled enough? Absolutely. I think he's undersized for lightweight. That's what I felt.â€

“I do think that he created a fake world before,†Gaethje said. “Believing he's unbeatable, invincible. That's not possible. Nobody is f*cking unbeatable or invincible. Putting on parties, updating bios, it's kind of the same thing. He was updating the bio as if he had won before the fight happened. It's a very similar thing, but as a loser now.â€

Quotes via MMA Junkie

Do you agree with Gaethje? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

---

Eddie Hearn didn't hold back after Dana
White's name was featured in Netflix's press release for
Tyson
Fury vs. Anthony
Joshua.

Fury and Joshua are set to clash on Dec. 11 at Principality Stadium
in Cardiff, Wales, with the matchup streaming on Netflix. The
fight's location had been a major talking point during
negotiations, with Hearn pushing for the United Kingdom while
Fury's side campaigned for Madison Square Garden in New York.

Netflix's Fury-Joshua announcement puts Dana White at center of
dispute with Eddie Hearn

Netflix's announcement described the bout as a co-promotion between
Turki Alalshikh's The Ring and White, but did not mention Hearn or
Matchroom Boxing, who represent Joshua, or Frank Warren and
Queensberry, who represent Fury.

Hearn, speaking with IFL TV, immediately disputed White's
involvement while pointing to the agreement surrounding the
fight.

“Dana White cannot be involved in this fight,†Hearn said. “Netflix
clearly didn't get the memo. You see, no one talks to each other.
So, I speak to Sela and Turki, ‘No, Dana White is not involved in
the fight, you’ve got a contract that says that, he won’t be at the
presser, blah, blah, blah.' And then Netflix says the fight’s in
conjunction with Dana White.â€

Hearn then slammed White over the previous negotiations and his
insistence that the fight would take place in New York.

“You came in and was like, ‘Yeah, we’ll just take this fight, the
biggest fight in the history of British boxing, one of the biggest
sporting events in the history of Britain and we’ll just put it in
Madison Square Garden.' Well, guess what, motherf*cker? That didn’t
happen.â€

Hearn further emphasized that he intends to remind Netflix of the
contractual obligations.

“I’ll be speaking to Netflix just to remind them of their
contractual obligations, and it’ll be dealt with,†Hearn added. “We
won the race; the fight is happening in the U.K. and on we go.â€

The comments come after months of public back-and-forth between
Hearn and White over Fury-Joshua. White previously accused Hearn of
hurting the negotiations and said the fight was close to falling
apart.

“PANTS DOWN, BENT OVER, BUTT CHEEKS
SPANKED”@EddieHearn
gives us his immediate reaction to the Fury vs Joshua announcement
and discusses Dana White’s involvement in the fight ðŸ¿#EddieHearn
|
#FuryJoshua |
#BoxingNews pic.twitter.com/TKre4yXVSK

— IFL TV (@IFLTV)
September 24, 2026