Gable Steveson’s Manager Defends UFC 331 Loss by Pointing to Islam Makhachev and Georges St-Pierre’s Early Setbacks
Abraham Kawa backed Gable Steveson to have a legendary MMA career despite suffering a shocking loss at UFC 331.
Following the shocking UFC 331 upset, Gable Steveson's manager Abraham Kawa defended his client's future by comparing his loss to those of other UFC legends. Steveson, a 2020 Olympic gold medalist, was a massive favorite at nearly -2400 odds before being knocked out by Sean Sharaf in just 12 seconds. Sharaf was 0-2 in the UFC, while Steveson had been training alongside high-profile fighters like Jon Jones.
Kawa stated that Steveson's setback was a minor bump in the road, and cited examples of other fighters who suffered major losses but went on to have legendary careers, including Islam Makhachev, Georges St-Pierre, Demetrious Johnson, Daniel Cormier, and Jose Aldo. However, there is a key difference between Makhachev, GSP, and Cormier's setbacks and Steveson's - Makhachev and the others faced opponents with established UFC records, whereas Steveson was a rookie.
Steveson's actions after the loss, including leaving the cage prematurely, have also drawn scrutiny. As he faces a new chapter in his UFC career, the outcome of his recovery remains uncertain.
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