Overview
- Gable Steveson was knocked out by Sean Sharaf in roughly 12 seconds at UFC 331, marking the first loss of his professional MMA career.
- Steveson entered the fight as a heavy favorite at about -2500, a line that made his defeat one of the largest betting upsets in UFC history.
- On Sept. 28, Chael Sonnen publicly defended Steveson, arguing the upset is being overblown and stressing Steveson’s Olympic wrestling pedigree and earlier combat highlights.
- Sonnen pointed out that no contracted UFC fighter has publicly asked to fight Steveson since the loss, leaving matchmaking and his immediate career path unresolved.
- Steveson’s rapid rise, Jon Jones’ mentorship, and the heavyweight division’s volatility mean the loss could either be an early setback or a turning point depending on his next fights and how the UFC pitches him to fans.