Gable Steveson went from amateur wrestling to WWE, then football and now MMA signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC earlier this year. However, after winning his debut earlier this year, his second fight ended with the former WWE star getting knocked out in 12 seconds.
AH, WITH MISCELLANEOUS
SHAWN SHARRAF KNOCKED OUT GABLE STEVESON!!
📺 @paramountplus: pic.twitter.com/LthFlZJqPw
— on UFC Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) September 20, 2026
At UFC 331 in Los Angeles, California on September 19, Steveson faced Shawn Sharaf, a man who had lost his previous two fights. Steveson rushed in, trying to control the cage, but was met by a left hook from Sharaf, who knocked Steveson out immediately for the victory. Sharaf entered the fight as a heavy underdog, making his win one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. After the event, he was awarded a special $100,000 “Actual Chaos” bonus, handed out by UFC president Dana White, who picked Sharaf’s victory as the most shocking moment of the night.
Steveson’s fight with Sharaf was widely reported in the media following the UFC 331 pre-fight press conference earlier this week due to comments made by Sharaf. He was the first UFC fighter to speak out about Steveson’s past legal troubles, in which he was accused of sexual assault in Minnesota in 2019, but did not face any criminal charges because the state of Minnesota does not have intoxicated sexual assault laws, which has since been amended due to the public nature of Steveson’s case.
With all that said, Steveson’s legal past wasn’t the reason he was ultimately let go by WWE back in 2024. Wrestling Observer Dave Meltzer, Steveson was cut due to not connecting with the fans, not improving in the ring, and being on a contract that was simply too expensive for WWE given Steveson’s progression.
