While the headliners at UFC 331 delivered, the biggest shocker of the night came when Gable Steveson was brutally knocked out by Sean Sharaf in just 12 seconds. The Olympic gold medalist entered Saturday’s fight with a perfect 4-0 MMA record and was around a -2000 betting favorite after stopping all four of his previous opponents.
Sharaf, meanwhile, came in as a massive 11-1 underdog and was still searching for his first UFC win after suffering consecutive knockout losses inside the Octagon. The heavyweight wasted no time throwing huge shots, eventually landing a devastating left hook that twisted Steveson’s head around and sent him crashing to the canvas.
Sean Sharaf 🇺🇸 solo necesitó de 12 segundos para mandar a dormir a su rival 🇺🇸Gable Steveson ‼️#CryptoCom #UFC331 | Ver en vivo por @PPlusDeportes pic.twitter.com/L6ia3V01rf
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) September 20, 2026
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Referee Frank Trigg immediately rushed in to stop the fight, with the official time coming at just 12 seconds. The loss was particularly tough to watch for Jon Jones, who was sitting in Steveson’s corner. Jones has played a major role in Steveson’s transition from Olympic wrestling star to MMA heavyweight prospect, and his reaction after the knockout said it all.
“Bones” exchanged a stunned look with coach Greg Jackson as they watched Steveson suffer the first loss of his MMA career. Their relationship goes well beyond a typical mentor connection. Steveson initially worked with Jones while helping him prepare for his 2024 heavyweight title defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.
He later joined Jones and his coaching team in New Mexico, with the former two-division UFC champion becoming one of Steveson’s key mentors. Things got even uglier after the fight.
Jon Jones reaction pic.twitter.com/d0G1EwhLkK
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) September 20, 2026
Steveson was seen leaving the Octagon before Sharaf was officially announced as the winner and before Bruce Buffer could deliver the official result. The Los Angeles crowd immediately turned on him, while several fellow fighters also criticized him on social media for leaving the cage early.
The fight had already carried plenty of tension before the opening bell. During the buildup, Sharaf brought up 2019 sexual assault allegations involving Steveson. No criminal charges were filed against Steveson or another then-University of Minnesota wrestler because prosecutors determined there was insufficient evidence.
Despite all the pre-fight attention, nobody expected the bout to end this quickly. Sharaf’s 12-second knockout became the third-fastest finish in UFC heavyweight history and finally gave him his first Octagon victory. For Steveson, it marked the first defeat of his five-fight MMA career.
And that makes the result even more fascinating. Steveson arrived in MMA with enormous expectations. His Olympic gold medal, elite wrestling pedigree, and relationship with Jones had many people believing he could become the next major heavyweight star.
Gable Steveson and Jon Jones just got booed out of the arena 😬 pic.twitter.com/XgcflQkIKs
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) September 20, 2026
Joe Rogan had praised his speed, while Tyron Woodley even suggested Steveson could have been ready to beat then-heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. After unsuccessful stints with WWE and an NFL opportunity that never materialized, MMA appeared to be Steveson’s chance to finally live up to the massive expectations surrounding him.
Now, that hype has taken a serious hit. This is easily the biggest setback of Steveson’s young MMA career, and how he responds could tell us far more about his future than everything that came before UFC 331.
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.
