Just days before the Craig Jones Invitational 2, the event has taken a major hit – as Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson has withdrawn from his scheduled superfight against Craig Jones.
Jones confirmed the news on his social media, explaining that Steveson suffered a toe injury in training that forced him out of the competition.
The timing is brutal for organizers, who now have less than a week to find a replacement.
While there will be no shortage of willing grapplers eager to step in, few can bring the same name recognition or accolades as Steveson, making the scramble especially difficult.
Jones, true to form, turned the setback into an opportunity for humor.
He quickly mocked Steveson online and even half-seriously suggested Wyatt Hendrickson – who handed Steveson his most recent loss in wrestling earlier this year – as a replacement.
Hendrickson would carry the same wrestling-versus-BJJ intrigue into the matchup, but unlike Steveson, he’d have virtually no time to prepare.
The injury could also disrupt Steveson’s other plans, as he recently announced his MMA debut was set for just weeks after CJI 2.
A two-week turnaround from an injury serious enough to force a withdrawal looks unlikely, meaning his transition to MMA could now be delayed.
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