Gable Steveson’s knockout loss at UFC 331 was every bit as shocking as it was controversial. The Olympic champion was knocked out by Sean Sharaf in just 12 seconds, marking the third-fastest knockout in heavyweight history. Even more surprising was the fact that Steveson entered the fight as a massive -2400 favorite.
However, it was Steveson’s behavior after the knockout that really got people talking. Instead of sticking around for the traditional result announcement, he quickly made his way out of the cage. After regaining consciousness, Steveson didn’t wait around for Bruce Buffer to announce Sharaf as the winner.
Before the referee could even raise Sharaf’s hand, Steveson walked out of the cage and headed toward the arena exit alongside Jon Jones. While Jones later took the blame for being the one who escorted Steveson out of the cage, the former two-division champion also fired back at Daniel Cormier after the UFC Hall of Famer criticized Steveson for being a sore loser.
Daniel Cormier Admits He Doesn’t Remember Leaving the Cage After UFC 214 Loss to Jon Jones
During the Paramount broadcast, Cormier had said, “If you’re concussed, cry —I did it! There’s the truth! And also, you stand there, and you take your lick whenever you lose. You cannot be a great winner and then an ungrateful loser, and I think that was bad from Steveson.”
Jones later took shots at Cormier over his own cage-leaving antics by sharing footage on his Instagram. Cormier famously walked out of the Octagon after getting knocked out by Jones at UFC 214 in 2017, refusing to stick around after the loss. He was eventually brought back by Dana White and UFC management for the official post-fight ceremony.
While Cormier’s title shot was later overturned, several MMA outlets and Jones were quick to point out the apparent hypocrisy. Cormier eventually defended himself, admitting that he didn’t actually remember leaving the cage after the loss.
The UFC Hall of Famer took to social media and wrote, “Wait, I did that? Honestly, this is what I mean when I say I remember nothing from after the kick landed until I got into the ambulance, and 9 years later I still can’t find the memory. Every time I see something from that night post-knockout, it’s the first time I’ve seen it. That’s crazy.”
Daniel Cormier says he has no memory of leaving the cage after the loss to Jon Jones:
“Wait I did that? Every time I see something from that night post knockout it’s the first time I’ve seen it. That’s crazy.”pic.twitter.com/v6fV3YQsC1 https://t.co/WpGMC9RIHu
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 22, 2026
Cormier’s explanation is understandable given the nature of the knockout, as Jones landed a massive head kick that left him unconscious for a considerable amount of time. Still, fans couldn’t help but find the situation ironic, with the UFC Hall of Famer criticizing Steveson for something he had also done himself after a devastating loss.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
