Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Outlook Gable Steveson vs. Old Sharaf collide this weekend (Saturday, September 19, 2026) at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California UFC 331.
Is Sharaf the man to pull off the upset? “The Smoke” has yet to win in two trips to the Octagon, and he hasn’t exactly faced off. As a result, he is in a position to take a huge loss… or get crushed in the attempt!
Let’s take a closer look at the betting odds and strategic keys for each athlete:
Steveson v Sharaf Betting odds
It goes without saying that Steveson can probably take down any opponent in the division if he puts his mind to it. For world-class wrestlers, problems generally arise in keeping opponents down and managing the gas tank, two areas where Steveson has yet to be tested. On the feet, Steveson is a vicious attacking force, although his defense is wide open.
One of the nastiest skill combinations in mixed martial arts (MMA) is a wrestler who is good at striking. The prime example, of course, is Jones, who found quite a bit of success by taking down his opponents with a mix of ranged striking and melee grappling. Based on Steveson’s debut performance, the 26-year-old super talent is following in his mentor’s footsteps as he jabbed his opponent a dozen times in the stomach with his toe in the middle of the round.
It’s that kind of offense that sets him apart from a scumbag like Sharaf. Very few heavyweights can deliver such stinging blows to the stomach without collapsing in an exhausted heap. If Steveson doesn’t want to wrestle right away – which is undoubtedly the safest route to victory – then another sure bet is to hit your opponent from a distance until he wants to go home.
Sharaf is a brawler. The big man has solid hands, but has struggled defensively so far. Additionally, his cardio hasn’t held up particularly well, though that’s hardly uncommon among unranked heavyweights.
Is there any objective reason to believe that Sharaf is upset? He only has six pro fights; it’s not like he’s some veteran who’s going to take a wrestler into deep water. Sharaf doesn’t even like deep water! On the bright side, Sharaf at least has the power to give him a chance.
With the overwhelming odds stacked against him, Sharaf would be well-advised to keep it simple. He needs to knock Steveson out, but that doesn’t mean he has to swing for the fences and wear himself out with every shot. If he can confidently push forward without becoming reckless, he’ll likely be able to convince Steveson to switch with him in the middle of the Octagon.
At least hope lives on in this situation.