Gable
Steveson has broken his silence following his stunning
12-second knockout loss.
Steveson was handed his first pro defeat by Sean
Sharaf, who pulled off one of the biggest upsets in
Ultimate Fighting Championship history. In his post-fight
statement, the Olympian addressed both the defeat and sexual
assault allegations stemming from his college years that resurfaced
during fight week.
Gable Steveson addresses Sean Sharaf upset and fight-week
allegations
Steveson and his teammate were arrested in connection with a sexual
assault allegation in 2019, but no criminal charges were ultimately
filed because of a lack of evidence. Sharaf repeatedly referenced
the allegations during fight week, turning fans against him, and
Steveson addressed those comments in a statement.
“This statement is for my family, my friends, my fans and the
people who truly know me and know the kind of man I am,†Steveson
wrote. “I know there are people who will never support me, no
matter what I say or do. That's their choice. But I'm speaking to
the people who know me not just as an athlete but as a husband and
a father to a young daughter.â€
Sharaf brought up the allegations during the pre-fight presser and
even gave Steveson the nickname “loophole,†which fans have carried
forward. The latter says he didn't commit the crime that fans are
attacking him for.
“Prior to and during fight week, an incident from my college years
was brought up by my opponent,†Steveson continued. “I believe it
was raised to get in my head but it also reopened something that
had been addressed years ago. I want to be clear — I did not do
anything alleged. I was never charged with a crime and he matter
was ultimately dropped by the district attorney. The allegations
were not ignored nor brushed aside. They were thoroughly and
heavily reviewed as I fully cooperated with law enforcement,
including a separate Title IX review. There were no criminal
charges, no conviction, and no finding of responsibility against
me. The matter was closed and there is no pending legal issue
involving me. My own attorney did their own investigation and
stated on the record that even if the law was changed, I would have
the same outcome, which now speaks for itself.â€
Steveson also directly addressed Sharaf's win, congratulating him
on the massive upset.
🚨 Gable
Steveson just released a statement following his knockout
loss:
“Prior to and during fight week, an incident from my college years
was brought up by my opponent. I believe it was raised to get in my
head, but it also reopened something that had been addressed years
ago.… pic.twitter.com/0eD6aFWaUX
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS)
September 22, 2026
Joshua
Van studies footage of fellow fighters who have a style similar
to his.
Van recently revealed that he used to flip tape of Dustin
Poirier to pick up techniques. He explains that he used to flip
the footage because he is orthodox while Poirier is a southpaw. Van
studies tape of other elite fighters like Ilia
Topuria, who have a boxing-based style like him. However, Van's
favorite fighter to study is fellow
Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholder Petr Yan.
Joshua Van explains how Dustin Poirier, Petr Yan and Ilia
Topuria influence his striking
Van defended his title for the second time at UFC
331, putting his renowned boxing on display to defeat Alexandre
Pantoja in their rematch. “The Fearless†revealed in a recent
interview that he actively studies Yan's hands and incorporates
what he can into his own arsenal.
“He's got my style of fighting,†Van told Ariel Helwani. “He's a
boxing-based fighter, kind of like Petr Yan, Ilia. I like to study
one of the greats and just put it into my game… Petr Yan really is
the one that I really watch.â€
Van has emerged as a fan favorite for his fighting style. His next
challenger hasn't been revealed yet, with Manel Kape
being the frontrunner. Meanwhile, Yan is scheduled to defend his
title in a trilogy bout against Merab Dvalishvili at
UFC 333.
Joshua Van
explains why he used to flip footage of Dustin
Poirier to study his striking:
“He's got my style of fighting. He's a boxing-based fighter, kind
of like Petr Yan,
Ilia.
I like to study one of the greats and just put it into my game.
Petr
Yan really is the one that I… pic.twitter.com/i3D5dST7M5
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani)
September 22, 2026
Sean
Sharaf is planning on getting a financial advisor after making
several terrible decisions.
Sharaf (5-2) was a massive underdog going into his
Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight bout against
Gable
Steveson at UFC
331, where he recorded a 12-second knockout in a historic
upset. He revealed before the bout that he was in heavy debt.
Sean Sharaf discusses ‘crazy' ways he blew up money to end up
in debt
Sharaf earned a $50,000 promotional bonus from Paramount+ for his
win over Steveson. Dana
White added $50,000 of his own to double Sharaf's bonus, while
revealing that the UFC heavyweight was $600,000 in debt.
Sharaf recently revealed how he gradually came under massive debt.
The former U.S. Marine admits to making terrible financial
decisions like buying a truck he couldn't afford. Sharaf also
started gambling when he first moved to Las Vegas in the hope of
meeting White, who frequents casinos.
Sharaf eventually had to borrow money from his mother. He took an
advance from his management company for UFC 331 so that he could
train in Vegas, as he lives with his mother in California now.
Sharaf barely has any assets in his name and banks regularly keep
hounding him. However, his life will hopefully change after his
last win, considering he plans to consult a financial advisor
now.
“I just made a lot of very crazy financial decisions,†Sharaf told
ESPN MMA. “So, I had a TRX I couldn't afford. Blew $120,000 on that
thing. I was trying to help my mom sometimes. But more times I
actually had borrowed money from her. I got an advance on my purse
from my management so I could have my camp in Vegas… I gambled a
lot of money when I first moved to Vegas. I was trying to meet
Dana… I don't have anything in my name. The banks call you every
single day… I think I'm getting a financial advisor.â€
Marlon
Vera's house was broken into while he was getting ready to
challenge Sean
O’Malley for the title.
Vera made an unsuccessful
Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight title bid against
O'Malley in 2024 in Miami. He recently revealed that his house in
California was broken into the night before the fight. When the
cameras went off at night, Vera's wife thought it was due to a
power cut. The next morning, the police informed Vera that his
house had been robbed.
Marlon Vera says his watch collection was stolen from his
California home before UFC 299
Vera wasn't happy to hear the news just hours before the biggest
fight of his career. Vera's watch collection, worth approximately
$200,000, was stolen. While someone informed Vera about a suspect,
the police never caught the culprit. Vera also believes it could be
someone who knew him, as they entered, found the watch collection
without rummaging through the house and exited within five
minutes.
“The night before the fight, the cameras went off,†Vera told
Michael
Bisping. “My wife was like, ‘Oh, maybe it's the electricity.'
The next morning, I wake up like, ‘F*ck yeah, title fight. Today
life changed.' Then the phone rings and the cops are like, ‘Hey
dude, they just robbed your house last night around 7 p.m.' I said,
‘Right now I don't have time for this; I'm fighting tonight.' The
cops know who I am; they were like, ‘No, we get it; we just thought
we’d let you know.' I'm like, ‘Wrong time to let me know.' They
told me they took my safe. I lost like $200K because I'm a watch
collector. Those were kind of investments. Those watches are money.
I'm counting in my head like, ‘Now I'm $200K short.' The cops never
found the guy. I have a photo and I have this random person
accusing, like, ‘Oh, I know this guy. His name is blah, blah.' The
guy came in, took the safe and took it through the front door. It
took him five minutes.â€
Vera (24-12) went on a four-fight skid starting with the failed
title challenge against O'Malley. “Chito†finally ended the slump
with a stoppage win over Charles
Jourdain at UFC 331.