UFC heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones was in attendance at Minnesota's wrestling match against Purdue on Sunday afternoon inside Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis.
The champ is here!
— Minnesota Wrestling (@GopherWrestling) February 9, 2025
Honored to have @UFC heavyweight champion @JonnyBones in the house watching the #Gophers today! pic.twitter.com/jsRHQdiodF
“Let’s go Gophers” ️
— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) February 9, 2025
Current @ufc Heavy Weight Champion @JonnyBones is cheering on @GopherWrestling today #B1GWrestling pic.twitter.com/ZjEG229lGn
He was there to show love to Gable Steveson, the Gophers heavyweight who was in Jones' most recent UFC fight camp. After winning his bout via tech fall, Steveson went over and dapped up Jones in the front row.
Gable Steveson earns a first-period tech fall, then walks off to shake hands with UFC Champion Jon Jones!! pic.twitter.com/PwepfYaeMX
— Saturday Night Lights (@WrestlingSNL) February 9, 2025
The No. 7 Gophers cruised on the mat, improving to 10-1 (and 6-1 in the Big Ten) by blowing out No. 28 Purdue 35-6 to win their sixth dual in a row. They won eight of the ten matches on the day. Minnesota was coming off an upset win over No. 4 Ohio State on Saturday.
Afterwards, Jones spoke to Minnesota's team in the locker room.
"An honor to be here," he said. "I wish you guys all the best this season. Hope you guys go on and do great things this season. Wrestling is one of the greatest sports ever. I've always heard that once you wrestle, everything else in life feels easy, and I really believe that's true. Have a great season."
UFC legend Jon Jones was in attendance for the @GopherWrestling dual and then talked to the team after the win #B1GWrestling pic.twitter.com/L12pf7Pjze
— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) February 9, 2025
"My guy!" Steveson said in an Instagram comment. "Appreciate the love and support for us today!"
Jones, 37, was a wrestler in high school in college. He's been a professional MMA fighter since 2008. With a career record of 28-1-0 (and one no-contest), he's regarded as one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time. Jones has had multiple stints as the UFC's light heavyweight champion and is currently the heavyweight champ, having most recently defended that title against Stipe Miocic on November 16.
The Gophers will host Iowa next Friday in the final home match of Steveson's career. After that, they're off to the Big Ten Championships in Evanston, IL on March 8-9.
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