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On his Instagram, Gable Steveson wrote:
"This statement is for my family, my friends, my fans, and the people who truly know me and know the kind of man I am. I know there are people who will never support me, no matter what I say or do. That's their choice. But I'm speaking to the people who know me not just as an athlete, but as a husband and a father to a young daughter.
Prior to and during fight week, an incident from my college years was brought up by my opponent. I believe it was raised to get in my head, but it also reopened something that had been addressed years ago.
I want to be clear: I did not do anything alleged. I was never charged with a crime, and the matter was ultimately dropped by the District Attorney. The allegations were not ignored nor brushed aside. They were thoroughly and heavily reviewed as I fully cooperated with law enforcement, including a separate Title IX review.
There were no criminal charges, no conviction, and no finding of responsibility against me. The matter was closed, and there is no pending legal issue involving me. My own attorney did their own investigation and stated on the record that even if the law was changed, I would have the same outcome, which now speaks for itself.
I understand how serious allegations like this are, and I understand that people may have questions when they hear only part of a story. Moving forward, I am going to keep focusing on my wife, my daughter, my family, and the work in front of me. To the people who support me, thank you. I know who I am. My family knows who I am. The people who have walked with me through life know who I am. That's what matters to me, and that's where I'm going to keep my focus.
As for my opponent, congratulations, you caught me. A mistake on my end was made. It was your night. Just like my wrestling days after my loss, I came back with an undeniable will to win and focus that led me to the top of my sport. The result of Saturday night, I believe, will catapult me to do the same. I will be great, and no one can deny me.
Gable Steveson"
***
Steveson was immediately knocked out with a left hook at this past weekend's UFC 331, losing in the first round in 12 seconds 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 described 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."
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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