Jon Jones was left simply as shocked as everybody else by 1.
An Olympic champion who entered UFC 331 as some of the ballyhooed heavyweight prospects in MMA historical past, Steveson suffered the primary defeat of his professional profession Saturday evening at Crypto.com Enviornment in Los Angeles, falling to Sean Sharaf by knockout simply 12 seconds into their heavyweight bout. Sharaf linked with a picture-perfect left hand that despatched Steveson tumbling to the canvas earlier than the struggle ever actually started.
Steveson was listed as excessive as a -1800 favourite heading into the bout, making Sharaf’s stunning knockout t of all time at Draft Kings
Jones, who has labored intently with Steveson all through his transition to MMA, was in his nook for Saturday's struggle alongside coaches Greg Jackson and Brandon Gibson.
Cameras caught Jones' fast response to the beautiful end result. The previous two-division UFC champion stood frozen along with his mouth open as he watched Steveson get knocked out, showing to be in full disbelief over what had simply occurred.
Steveson, 26, transitioned to MMA in 2025 on the heels of a adorned beginner wrestling profession that noticed him seize gold on the 2020 Olympic Video games at simply 21 years outdated. Steveson can also be a two-time NCAA Division I nationwide champion and two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner, the award given yearly to collegiate athletics' prime wrestler.
He made his UFC debut in July with a n and entered Saturday's struggle with a 4-0 skilled MMA document with 4 first-round knockouts.
Sharaf, in the meantime, entered the struggle winless in his earlier two UFC appearances and as greater than a 10-to-1 underdog at a number of sportsbooks. He was, in no unsure phrases, broadly seen as a lion being result in slaughter.
However because the outdated adage goes, something can occur in heavyweight MMA.
