Dana White downplays Gable Steveson's shocking UFC 331 knockout loss
Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson suffered a stunning 12-second knockout loss to Sean Sharaf in his UFC debut, then left the octagon before the result was announced and later publicly addressed old sexual assault allegations.
A shocking early knockout
Gable Steveson, the 2020 Olympic wrestling gold medalist, entered his UFC debut with huge expectations, only for it to end almost immediately. At UFC 331, opponent Sean Sharaf landed a clean left hand that knocked Steveson out just 12 seconds into the fight. It marked Steveson's first professional MMA loss and one of the biggest upsets of the event — according to MMA Fighting, Steveson had been a heavy favorite going in.
Leaving the octagon early
After recovering, Steveson left the octagon before the official result was announced, without congratulating Sharaf. The move drew criticism from fans and fighters, including former UFC champion Daniel Cormier, who felt Steveson should have stayed. Former two-division champion Jon Jones, however, took responsibility for the decision, saying he wanted his protégé to receive immediate medical attention.
Reaction from UFC leadership and team
UFC CEO Dana White took a calmer view, noting the enormous pressure Steveson carried into the fight and comparing the situation to Forrest Griffin once running out of the octagon after a win. "Anything is possible when two guys get in there and start fighting," White said. Steveson's manager, Abe Kawa, defended his fighter, pointing out that stars such as Islam Makhachev, Arman Tsarukyan, Demetrious Johnson, Georges St-Pierre, Daniel Cormier and José Aldo had all suffered losses yet built great careers. Sharaf himself was supportive as well, recalling his own first UFC defeat and praising Steveson's talent.
Steveson also responds to old allegations
On Tuesday, Steveson released a statement addressing both the loss and Sharaf's repeated comments during fight week calling him a "rapist." The remarks referenced a 2019 arrest on sexual misconduct charges at the University of Minnesota; the charges were later dropped due to what was described as "inadequate evidence," according to MMA Fighting. Steveson stressed he was never convicted, that the matter was also reviewed under a Title IX process, and that he maintains his innocence. On the fight itself, he acknowledged, "You caught me," vowing to come back stronger.
