Gable Steveson ‘wasn’t there’ mentally before historic UFC upset

Gable Steveson's historic 12-second knockout loss to Sean Sharaf at UFC 331 on September 19 may have been influenced by mental and emotional factors, according to his coach Valter Walker. Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist who entered as a massive favorite, was stopped by a left hook from the relatively unknown Sharaf, who carried a 0–2 UFC record into the bout.

Walker attributes Steveson's poor performance to intense online backlash and public scrutiny before the fight. The heavyweight faced relentless booing during the press conference and weigh-ins, fueled in part by Sharaf repeatedly referencing past controversies. Online criticism intensified when fans circulated Steveson's mugshot and references to sexual assault allegations from 2019.

The psychological toll appeared significant. Steveson lost approximately half a million Instagram followers in the lead-up to the fight, with negative comments flooding posts about him across social media platforms. Walker believes this cumulative pressure directly affected Steveson's mental state heading into the Octagon.

"A lot of guys post a lot of shit about him on the internet and he lost a lot of followers," Walker told Red Corner MMA. "People are calling him a rapist. I think he lost maybe half a million followers on Instagram. And I think that shit can really shake your head before a fight. He went into the cage, but mentally, he wasn't there."

While Steveson suffered his first professional MMA loss, questions remain about how external factors may have impacted his typically dominant performance.