Sean Sharaf Hands Gable Steveson UFC’s Biggest Betting Upset in 12-Second KO

Q: What technical flaw did Sean Sharaf exploit to shatter Olympic champion Gable Steveson's undefeated MMA streak in just 12 seconds?

Sharaf exploited a basic defensive flaw in Steveson’s striking: he reached his hands out low and wide to parry instead of keeping a tight guard, leaving his chin exposed. Reports from cageside and live coverage indicate Steveson opened with a leg kick, then extended his arms to catch or disrupt Sharaf’s punches. Sharaf read that immediately, threw a right hand to occupy him, and looped the left hook over the outstretched arms. The punch landed clean on the chin and ended the fight almost instantly. Technically, it was a classic MMA-entry mistake from a fighter still early in his transition from wrestling. Steveson’s reaction suggested he was trying to hand-fight or swat punches the way a wrestler manages ties, but that left him vulnerable against a heavyweight throwing compact combinations. Sharaf’s timing and punch selection were decisive, but the opening came from Steveson’s exposed head position and lack of a disciplined shell in the pocket. So the flaw was not wrestling-related at all. It was a striking-defense lapse: poor guard structure, reaching to parry, and failing to protect the chin against a fast left hook.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 22

BetOnline said Gable Steveson’s UFC 331 loss to Sean Sharaf is the biggest betting upset in UFC history after the Olympic champion entered as a massive favorite and was stopped in 12 seconds in Los Angeles.
Odds closed as high as -2500 to -3335 for Steveson, whose 4-0 MMA start had included four knockout wins, while Sharaf came in with a far thinner résumé and prior stoppage losses.
The result pushed past the recent Myktybek Orolbai-Jeremiah Wells shocker and Ronda Rousey’s 2015 knockout loss to Holly Holm atop BetOnline’s all-time UFC upset list.
Henry Cejudo said Steveson should step away for a year to rebuild his defense and focus strictly on striking, and no timetable has been set for his UFC return.