Entry into Submission Grappling
Following his Olympic triumph, Steveson engaged publicly with the submission grappling world, expressing interest in potential matches against elite competitors including Nicky Rodriguez and Gordon Ryan. Those conversations generated substantial discussion about how his wrestling base would translate against world-class BJJ, framing him as a compelling crossover prospect.
The most significant step in that transition came when Steveson was booked to face Craig Jones at Craig Jones Invitational 2 (CJI 2) in August 2025. The matchup drew considerable interest from both wrestling and grappling audiences, representing a natural collision between elite freestyle wrestling and high-level submission grappling. Steveson ultimately withdrew before competition due to a turf toe injury, with Chael Sonnen stepping in as Jones's replacement.
The Match-Fixing Allegation
In the aftermath of his withdrawal, Steveson made a pointed public allegation: that he had been asked to take a dive and allow Craig Jones to win the scheduled match. He outlined the claim in a widely covered interview with Ariel Helwani, bringing it to a mainstream combat sports audience. The allegation remains unverified and disputed, and its context is notable — it concerns a match that was cancelled before it could be contested rather than one that was actually competed.
The controversy nonetheless sparked widespread debate within the grappling community regarding the integrity and business practices surrounding invitation-based events. Whatever the merits of the claim, the episode significantly elevated Steveson's profile in the submission grappling world.