Steveson Manager Backs UFC 331 Favorite After 12-Second Knockout Loss

Q: Can Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson mentally recover from a humiliating 12-second knockout after suffering one of the biggest UFC upsets ever?

Yes — he can recover mentally, but only if he treats this as a reality check rather than an accident. The facts cut both ways. A 12-second knockout as a -2400 favorite is a severe blow, and the optics worsened when Steveson left the cage before the official decision. In MMA, that kind of loss can damage confidence because it exposes vulnerability instantly and publicly. At heavyweight, where one punch can end everything, the shock can linger. But there is also strong evidence that one loss does not have to define a career. Steveson is only 26, is 4-1 as a pro, and entered MMA with unusually high expectations because of his Olympic gold medal, NCAA titles and fast-starting knockout record. His manager Abe Kawa, Dana White and even Sharaf all pointed to the same truth: elite fighters often absorb an early or ugly loss and come back stronger. Georges St-Pierre, Jose Aldo, Demetrious Johnson and Daniel Cormier all rebounded from defeats. What matters now is not the comparison to legends, but Steveson’s response. The loss exposed how little adversity he had faced in MMA and suggested clear technical and emotional gaps, especially in striking defense, composure and cage maturity. If he accepts those lessons, slows down his development and leans on his wrestling foundation, the knockout can become a turning point rather than a collapse. If he cannot handle the embarrassment, it could haunt him. If he can, this may be the moment that actually makes him a real fighter.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 20

Abe Kawa said Gable Steveson "will be back real soon" after the Olympic gold medalist was knocked out by Sean Sharaf in 12 seconds at UFC 331.
Sharaf, facing a -2400 underdog matchup in Los Angeles, ended the fight with a counter left hand during the opening exchange in one of UFC's biggest upsets.
Steveson then drew added backlash for leaving the octagon before the official decision was read, with Daniel Cormier and other fighters criticizing the exit.
Sharaf's breakout win also brought $100,000 in bonuses, while Kawa framed the loss as an early-career setback shared by champions including Islam Makhachev and Georges St-Pierre.