Sean Sharaf knocked out Gable Steveson 12 seconds into the first round at UFC 331 on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Sharaf, a 33-year-old heavyweight from Santa Ana, California, had lost both of his previous UFC fights and was listed at +900 against an Olympic gold medalist who had never been beaten.
The finish was a left hook to the chin, landed as Steveson reached out to parry an incoming combination, followed by shots on the ground. CBS Sports reported it as the third-fastest heavyweight knockout in UFC history. It was Sharaf’s first win inside the octagon.
Who Is Sean Sharaf?
Sharaf is 33 years old, stands 6-foot-2 and weighed 251 pounds for this fight, with a 76-inch reach. The UFC lists his hometown as Anaheim, California; he describes himself as being from Santa Ana. He trains at Freestyle MMA and fights under the nickname “The Smoke.”
He is of Palestinian descent. His father came to the United States from Jerusalem as a refugee. Sharaf has described himself publicly as “a Palestinian, United States Marine from Santa Ana California,” and told reporters during fight week that he wanted “the same opportunity to promote myself and tell my story.”
Was Sean Sharaf in the Military?
Yes. Before he fought for a living, Sharaf served six years in the United States Marine Corps. He did not turn professional in MMA until 2021, at 28, following a two-fight amateur run in which he won both bouts by knockout. That is a late start for a heavyweight, and it left him with a short record built almost entirely out of finishes.
Sean Sharaf, a former United States Marine, ahead of his UFC 331 bout with Gable Steveson.
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) September 19, 2026
What Is Sean Sharaf’s Fight Record?
Sharaf is 5-2 as a professional. He went 4-0 on the California regional circuit between 2021 and 2024, and every one of those wins came by knockout or technical knockout without reaching the second round.
| Date | Result | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 23, 2021 | Win vs. Bruno Casillas | TKO (ground and pound), R1 1:10 |
| Jul 1, 2023 | Win vs. Nathan Mullett | TKO (punches), R1 0:09 |
| Apr 4, 2024 | Win vs. Chadricc Kindle | TKO (punches), R1 4:31 |
| Sep 6, 2024 | Win vs. LJ Torres | KO (punch), R1 3:19 |
The fastest, against Nathan Mullett at Up Next Fighting 9 in July 2023, took nine seconds. He held heavyweight titles in both Fight Club OC and Lights Out Xtreme Fighting before the UFC signed him.
Was This Sean Sharaf’s First UFC Win?
Yes. Sharaf made his octagon debut on October 12, 2024, against Junior Tafa at UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira, and was stopped by TKO in the second round. He returned on December 13, 2025, against Steven Asplund at UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Kape, and was stopped in the second round again. A booking against Tai Tuivasa in May 2026 did not go ahead.
He arrived at UFC 331 at 0-2 in the promotion, with both defeats by knockout, which is the sort of record that usually means a fighter is competing for his roster spot.
What Did Sean Sharaf Say About Gable Steveson Before the Fight?
The fight was built on something harder than ordinary fight-week talk. At the UFC 331 press conference on September 17, Sharaf raised a 2019 criminal case involving Steveson, calling him a “rapist” and saying, “This guy raped a woman in 2019, and that’s why everyone is booing him.” He also referred to Steveson as “Loophole,” a reference to the Minnesota statute he said kept the case from being charged.
The record of that case is documented. Steveson and University of Minnesota teammate Dylan Martinez were arrested in June 2019 on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct after an alleged incident on June 15. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman declined to file charges against either man. “There are often conflicting versions of what happened and this case is no exception,” Freeman said. “In the interest of justice, there is inadequate evidence to fairly charge and prosecute this case.” Freeman noted that criminal cases must meet the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The university lifted both suspensions and the wrestlers were reinstated.
No charges were filed, and Steveson has never been convicted of anything connected to the 2019 allegation. The characterization Sharaf used at the press conference was his own.
Steveson answered it from the same stage. “He’s already lost just by saying that,” he said. “He’s a coward. He’s already looking at the way out.” On the nickname: “That’s a good name, right? That’s a great name. I see a lot of people cheering, but I mean, we’ll see how many people cheer when he gets flatlined on Saturday night.”
How Did Sean Sharaf Knock Out Gable Steveson?
The fight lasted one exchange. Steveson extended his arms to parry an incoming combination, Sharaf’s left hook went through the gap and landed on the chin, and follow-up strikes ended it at 12 seconds. Steveson left the arena before the official result was announced.
Sean Sharaf knocks out Gable Steveson in 12 seconds at UFC 331.
— UFC (@ufc) September 20, 2026
What Were the Odds for Sean Sharaf Against Gable Steveson?
He was a heavy underdog. The UFC 331 preview published here listed the fight at Steveson -1240, Sharaf +942. Reuters had Sharaf at +900 during fight week and CBS Sports reported Steveson as short as -2400, so the exact number depended on the book and the timing, but every line had Steveson as an overwhelming favorite. A $100 bet on Sharaf at +942 returned $942 in profit. The MMA odds calculator converts prices like these and works out the payout.
What Did Sean Sharaf Say After the Win?
“I worked so hard. I prayed so hard. I believed in myself when nobody believed in myself.”
Asked during fight week whether his opponent’s credentials impressed him, Sharaf had been blunt. “No, I’m not impressed,” he said. “He’s an Olympic gold medalist, but this is fighting. We’re gonna fight.” He summed up his approach as “Hit, don’t get hit, leave with a bag full of cash.”
What Is Gable Steveson’s Record Now?
Steveson is 4-1 as a professional and 1-1 in the UFC. The 2020 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling had won all four of his previous fights, including his UFC debut at UFC 329 in July, and this was the first defeat of his professional MMA career.
Full fight-by-fight results from the card are in the UFC 331 live results and recap.
Leave a Reply