Steveson Rips UFC 331 Foe Sharaf as 'Coward' Over Jab

Gable Steveson has fired back at Sean Sharaf after his UFC 331 opponent called him a "rapist" in reference to a 2019 sexual assault allegation that never led to charges, telling reporters that bringing it up made Sharaf "the coward."

Steveson, the Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA heavyweight champion, meets Sharaf on the main card of UFC 331 this Saturday, Sept. 19, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. It will only be Steveson's second fight inside the Octagon, but the bout has picked up real venom after Sharaf accused UFC content creator Nina Drama of favoring Steveson with promotional coverage and then invoked the old allegation against him.

What Did Sean Sharaf Say About Gable Steveson?

Sharaf, a former Marine, took issue with what he saw as an imbalance in how the UFC's media arm covered him versus Steveson, and in the process referred to Steveson as a "rapist," a reference to an allegation tied to a 2019 sexual-assault allegation that did not result in criminal charges.

In June 2019, Steveson and then-University of Minnesota wrestling teammate Dylan Martinez were arrested on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct after a woman reported a sexual assault. Six months later, Hennepin County prosecutors announced that neither man would be charged, with County Attorney Mike Freeman saying there was "inadequate evidence to fairly charge and prosecute" the case and stressing that prosecutors must be able to prove criminal allegations beyond a reasonable doubt. Because no charges were filed, the allegation was never adjudicated at trial, and Steveson's attorney maintained at the time that he was innocent.

How Did Steveson Respond?

Steveson stayed quiet when Sharaf first made the comment, but addressed it directly at UFC 331 media day. "I'm here to win," Steveson told reporters. "I'm not here to joke around. I'm not here to sh--t talk. I'm not here to be rude to anybody. I'm here to win and go home, and that's my whole objective."

He didn't hold back when connecting the dots to Sharaf specifically. "I feel like a lot of this is directed toward [Sharaf]," Steveson said. "If a guy is going to bring up certain things, that's the coward coming out of him. It's a guy showing up of his own free will to say, 'Hey, I'm a sacrificial lamb,' and that's what he's going to be Saturday night."

The fight wasn't originally slated for the main card. It moved up after Brian Ortega withdrew from his rematch with Renato Moicano, and both heavyweights have also been added to Thursday's UFC 331 press conference, giving them one more chance to trade words before they trade punches.

Betting Angle

Sportsbooks aren't treating this as competitive. Steveson has opened as roughly a -1900 favorite, with Sharaf sitting around +975, pricing this as close to a lock for the former NCAA champion. That gap reflects Steveson's amateur pedigree and physical tools against an opponent oddsmakers view as a significant step down in class, though bettors should keep in mind Steveson is still just two fights into his UFC career and hasn't been tested against real durability the way a live underdog like Sharaf could bring on a given night. On a mismatch priced this lopsided, the moneyline itself offers little value, so bettors leaning Steveson may find more to work with in round or method props than in backing him to simply win.

With real animosity now attached to a fight that was already lopsided on paper, expect the pre-fight noise to keep building through the rest of fight week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Gable Steveson call Sean Sharaf a coward?

Gable Steveson said Sean Sharaf was 'the coward' for bringing up a 2019 sexual assault allegation against Steveson that never led to criminal charges, calling the move gutless ahead of their UFC 331 fight.

When and where is Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf?

Gable Steveson faces Sean Sharaf on the main card of UFC 331 on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

What happened with the 2019 allegation against Gable Steveson?

Steveson was arrested in June 2019 on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct alongside a University of Minnesota wrestling teammate, but Hennepin County prosecutors announced six months later that neither man would be charged due to insufficient evidence.