Gable Steveson’s manager releases statement after shocking 12-second knockout loss at UFC 331

Gable Steveson suffered one of the most shocking upsets in UFC history at UFC 331 in Los Angeles on Saturday, knocked out in just 12 seconds by Sean Sharaf with a counter left hand. Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist, had closed as a heavy -2400 favorite, making the result a stunning reversal of expectations.

In the aftermath, Steveson faced criticism not only for the loss itself but also for his conduct inside the octagon. The heavyweight walked out before the official decision was even announced, drawing rebuke from analysts including Daniel Cormier and other fighters for appearing to quit on the moment.

On Sunday, Steveson's manager Abe Kawa released a statement defending his client and putting the loss in historical perspective. Kawa invoked the legacies of Islam Makhachev, Arman Tsarukyan, Georges St-Pierre, Demetrious Johnson, Daniel Cormier, and Jose Aldo—all elite fighters who suffered defeats early in their careers before building legendary resumes. "It's OK that Gable got caught," Kawa wrote on Instagram. "We stand by our guy. He will be back real soon, and he will be great!"

Sharaf's stunning performance earned him $100,000 in bonuses, cementing one of the biggest upsets of the night. For Steveson, the challenge now extends beyond his next opponent: rebuilding both his record and his reputation after a humbling introduction to professional MMA competition.