Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) super powerhouse and Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson suffered his first professional loss last night (Saturday 19 September 2026) by knockout Old Sharaf in just 12 seconds UFC 331 main card Inside the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California (watch the highlights).
No one saw this coming… except Sharaf.
Steveson entered the fray as ridiculous -2500 betting favouritewhile Sharaf was even a +1200 underdog in some sportsbooks. The result instantly became one of the biggest betting scandals in UFC history.
“Anything is possible,” White told reporters. “Anything is possible when two guys come in and start fighting. You never know how fights are going to go. That’s why people ask me, ‘Is this guy going to fight this guy after Saturday?’
Unfortunately for Steveson, the knockout loss wasn’t the only criticism he received.
The 26-year-old left the Octagon immediately after regaining consciousness, refusing to stay in the cage until the official result was announced. Steveson was praised by many fighters and fans for his poor athleticism.
White, however, didn’t seem too bothered by going out.
“You know, when you’re in that position — he obviously had high expectations for himself — that’s what happens,” White said. “F-King Forrest Griffin ran out of the octagon when he won his fight. These things happen.”
Steveson’s perfect record and an aura of invincibility was destroyed in just 12 seconds, dropping him to 4-1 as a pro and 1-1 inside the Octagon.
The loss does not erase his Olympic gold, elite wrestling credentials or exceptional athletic potential. However, it reveals how little anyone really knew about Steveson as a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. His first four opponents never pushed him beyond the opening round, meaning he had yet to experience real adversity in the sport.
Steveson is still only 26 years old and has only five professional MMA fights under his belt, so the plenty of time to recover. How he reacts to this humiliation will reveal far more about his future than any of his four dominant knockout victories.
Walking out of the Octagon eventually becomes a footnote as Steveson crashes.
If he doesn’t, those 12 seconds may be remembered as the moment the UFC’s next big heavyweight hype train completely derailed.
The most satisfying knockouts in UFC history
What are your favorite satisfying knockouts in UFC history?
The criteria can be anything.
There are two for me
Dan Henderson Vs. Michael Bisping at UFC 100
&
Sean Sharaf vs. Gable Steveson
Click for complete UFC 331 results, coverage and highlights HERE.
