Steveson Slammed by Cormier, Rogan After UFC 331 KO Loss

Gable Steveson walked straight out of the octagon without acknowledging Sean Sharaf after getting knocked out in 12 seconds at UFC 331, and the reaction from Daniel Cormier and Joe Rogan on the broadcast made clear the manner of his exit was almost as big a story as the finish itself.

Steveson entered Saturday's card at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles as a massive favorite, with some sportsbooks pricing him as high as -2500 against Sharaf's +1200. The Olympic gold medalist was 4-0 and considered one of the most hyped heavyweight prospects in the sport. None of that mattered once Sharaf, fighting with an 0-2 UFC record, landed a short left hook that put Steveson flat on his back before he had thrown a single strike.

What Did Daniel Cormier Say About Gable Steveson?

Cormier did not hold back on Steveson's decision to leave without staying for Sharaf's hand raise or offering any acknowledgment of the result. "I think Gable made some mistakes in there," Cormier said after UFC 331 ended. "You're a 4-0 fighter. Wrestle. You have to. Also, you stand there and you take your licks whenever you lose. You let that man get his hand raised and you stand there no matter how you feel." He added that "you cannot be a great winner but then an ungrateful loser."

Rogan's read centered on the buildup around Steveson rather than his ring conduct. He said the odds and hype "got to his head and he felt he couldn't be beaten," describing how Steveson "stood there flat-footed" before Sharaf "dipped and then hooked and caught him on the chin." Rogan called it "one of the greatest storybook, Cinderella stories" and said it had to be "the biggest odds ever."

Cormier also pointed to the gap between Steveson's amateur wrestling pedigree and the respect he's afforded inside the cage. "He's an Olympic champion and maybe people expect other people to respect that but they're not going to," Cormier said. "Sharaf was not having any of it. He went in there to knock Gable Steveson out and he did."

Dana White, who called the card as UFC CEO, kept his own comments measured. Asked about the result at the post-fight press conference, White said simply that "anything is possible... when two guys get in there and start fighting. You never know."

Betting Angle

A -2500 favorite losing outright is about as rare as it gets in the UFC, and Steveson going off at those numbers while Sharaf sat as high as +1200 at some books made this one of the biggest single-fight upsets the promotion has seen. Bettors who backed the underdog on a whim cashed a monster ticket, while anyone parlaying Steveson as a lock learned the hard way that gaudy amateur credentials and a perfect record don't always translate into safe favorites at heavyweight, where one clean shot changes everything. Expect oddsmakers to be far more conservative the next time Steveson is booked, and expect his market price to reflect genuine uncertainty rather than hype for the first time in his career.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who beat Gable Steveson at UFC 331?

Sean Sharaf knocked out Gable Steveson just 12 seconds into their heavyweight bout at UFC 331 on September 19, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Why did Daniel Cormier criticize Gable Steveson after UFC 331?

Daniel Cormier said Gable Steveson acted like an 'ungrateful loser' for leaving the octagon after his knockout loss without staying for Sean Sharaf's hand to be raised.

What were the betting odds for Steveson vs. Sharaf at UFC 331?

Gable Steveson was priced as high as a -2500 favorite at some sportsbooks, while Sean Sharaf was as big as a +1200 underdog, making the knockout one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.