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FORMER WWE STAR GABLE STEVESON KO'D 12 SECONDS INTO UFC FIGHT, EXITS OCTAGON BEFORE WINNER CAN BE ANNOUNCED

Former gold medal Olympian and WWE star Gable Steveson was immediately knocked out with a left hook at last night's UFC 331, losing in the first round to Sean Sharaf, who had referred to Steveson as a "rapist" during a  pre-fight interview.

Sharaf was referring to June 2019, when Steveson, then a student-athlete at the University of Minnesota, Steveson was arrested alongside a teammate on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct.  At the time, prosecutors declined to file charges due to inadequate evidence due to the Minneapolis statues at the time regarding alleged victims who had consumed alcohol, which were later updated to close what has been called a "loophole." 

Steveson professed his innocence at the time, but the smear of the arrest followed him over the years, leading to him being greatly booed during his WWE NXT run before WWE, which at one point had planned to have Paul Levesque face him (pre-cardiac issues) at a Wrestlemania, cut Steveson in May 2024.

Steveson attempted an NFL career before landing in MMA.  

When asked about the comment leading up to the fight, Steveson responded, "He's a coward.  He's looking for his way out."

Sharaf responded by commenting, "OK, loophole."

Twelve seconds into the fight:

Steveson exited the Octagon before Sean Sharaf could have his arm raised and was criticized by UFC great Daniel Cormier on the Paramount+ broadcast for it:

 

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