Jon Anik Doubts Gable Steveson Survives 10 UFC Fights
Jon Anik doubts Gable Steveson reaches 10 UFC fights after his shocking 12-second KO loss to Sean Sharaf at UFC 331.
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UFC commentator Jon Anik says he doubts Gable Steveson will last ten fights in the Octagon after the former Olympic champion was knocked out cold by Sean Sharaf in 12 seconds at UFC 331 last month.
Anik raised the question on Submission Radio, revisiting an over-under line he set for Steveson's UFC career right after his debut win. "I went on our podcast and said, 'Over-under 10 UFC fights for Gable,'" Anik said. "I'm not sure he actually gets to 10 fights. This is an appreciable setback."
What Happened to Gable Steveson at UFC 331
Gable Steveson walked into UFC 331 inside Crypto.com Arena as one of the shortest favorites in promotion history, and he lasted all of 12 seconds. Sharaf landed a clean left hand that put Steveson face first on the canvas, handing the 26-year-old wrestling standout his first professional MMA loss and dropping him to 4-1. It came off a dominant Octagon debut win over Elisha Ellison that had built Steveson into one of the UFC's most hyped heavyweight prospects.
Anik isn't just pointing to the loss itself. He's pointing to how it happened. "It's one thing if maybe he got knocked out late in this fight... This dude got flatlined and knocked out in 12 seconds. So, how do you regroup?" Anik said. He added that he still believes Steveson can find real success if he makes it to that 10-fight mark, but called the manner of this loss one of the harder things to come back from in the sport.
Betting Angle
Sportsbooks had Steveson as an overwhelming favorite going in, and Sharaf came off the board as a massive live underdog, reflecting just how lopsided the market saw this fight before Sharaf landed the first punch he threw. That's the risk inherent in betting heavy favorites who are still unproven past the first round or two. A gaudy amateur pedigree and a clean knockout win don't tell you much about chin or recovery instincts until someone actually tests them, and Sharaf did in the most emphatic way possible.
Whenever Steveson returns, expect the market to adjust. Books won't price him anywhere near that level of favorite again until he shows he can take a punch and keep operating, and his price will likely hinge heavily on who the UFC picks for his first fight back. A step-down opponent probably restores him to favorite status, but nowhere close to the number he carried into UFC 331.
Steveson has said the loss won't define him and will "catapult" him toward the success he expects. Whether he gets the chance to prove that over nine more fights, the way Anik framed it, is now the real story of his UFC career.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Jon Anik doubt Gable Steveson will reach 10 UFC fights?
Jon Anik questioned whether Gable Steveson will reach 10 UFC fights after Steveson was knocked out in 12 seconds by Sean Sharaf at UFC 331, calling the manner of the loss one of the hardest things for a fighter to recover from.
What happened between Gable Steveson and Sean Sharaf at UFC 331?
Sean Sharaf knocked out Gable Steveson in just 12 seconds at UFC 331 in Los Angeles, handing the heavily favored Olympic gold medalist his first professional MMA loss and dropping his record to 4-1.
What is Gable Steveson's UFC record after UFC 331?
Gable Steveson is now 4-1 as a professional MMA fighter after his lone loss, a 12-second knockout to Sean Sharaf at UFC 331.
