Jon Jones was left simply as shocked as everybody else by Gable Steveson’s stunning loss at UFC 331.
An Olympic champion who entered UFC 331 as one of the ballyhooed heavyweight prospects in MMA historical past, Steveson suffered the primary defeat of his professional profession Saturday evening at Crypto.com Area in Los Angeles, falling to Sean Sharaf by knockout simply 12 seconds into their heavyweight bout. Sharaf related with a picture-perfect left hand that despatched Steveson tumbling to the canvas earlier than the combat ever actually started.
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Steveson was listed as excessive as a -1800 favourite heading into the bout, making Sharaf’s stunning knockout the most important UFC betting upset 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 combat alongside coaches Greg Jackson and Brandon Gibson.
Cameras caught Jones’ quick response to the gorgeous consequence. The previous two-division UFC champion stood frozen together 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 previous. Steveson additionally turned a two-time NCAA Division I nationwide champion and two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner, the award given yearly to collegiate athletics’ high wrestler.
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He made his UFC debut in July with a two-minute stoppage of Elisha Ellison and entered Saturday’s combat with a 4-0 skilled MMA report with 4 first-round knockouts.
Sharaf, in the meantime, entered UFC 331 winless in his earlier two Octagon appearances and listed as greater than a 10-to-1 underdog at a number of sportsbooks. The retired U.S. Marine was, in no unsure phrases, broadly considered as a lion being result in slaughter.
However because the previous adage goes, something can occur when large boys throw punches in four-ounce gloves.
