Sean Sharaf reacts to massive upset win over Gable Steveson at UFC 331, reveals what happened in post-fight interaction

Los Angeles, CA - September 19: In an unexpected upset, amateur fighter Sean Sharaf stunned the MMA world by defeating Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson in the first round of their UFC 331 bout at Crypto.com Arena. Sharaf, who had a 0-2 record in the UFC, faced the pressure of being the biggest underdog in UFC history, but he approached the match with confidence and determination.

Sharaf recounted his mindset leading up to the fight, "I think when your back’s against the wall and you’re on the chopping block at 0-2 [in the UFC] and you’re going against the hottest prospect in MMA history, you’re either going to take that leap of faith or you’re going to fail. I just completely surrendered to it. I was just like I believe in myself and whatever happens, I’m going to do it."

His strategy involved using psychological warfare against Steveson, repeatedly calling him a "rapist" due to the sexual assault allegations Steveson faced during his college years. Although those allegations were later dropped, Sharaf believed they had a psychological impact on Steveson during the fight. The 12-second knockout was a shocking result, with both fighters shaking hands after the event, despite Steveson's initial decision to leave the octagon immediately after the bell rang.

Sharaf refused to let that affect his celebration, reaffirming that he would get his hand raised regardless of Steveson's actions.