Gable Steveson Breaks Silence on UFC 331 Knockout Loss and 2019 Arrest

BREAKING SILENCE AFTER A DIFFICULT WEEK

Gable Steveson has broken his silence three days after UFC 331, where he was knocked out by Sean Sharaf in just 12 seconds, the first MMA defeat of his career and, by some measures, the biggest betting upset in UFC history. It capped what many considered a disastrous week for Steveson, who was booed by fans at the pre-fight press conference, the ceremonial weigh-ins, his walk to the octagon, and again after he left the cage before the official result was read.

At the pre-fight press conference, Sharaf had brought up Steveson's 2019 arrest for sexual assault, calling him "The Loophole," a nickname fans had already attached to Steveson online after the case's prosecutor alluded to how a loophole in the law may have factored into the outcome.

STEVESON'S STATEMENT

On Tuesday, Steveson shared a lengthy statement on Instagram addressing both his past and the fight itself. "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," he wrote. "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."

He was direct about the case's outcome: "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... 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."

ADDRESSING THE FIGHT

On the knockout itself, Steveson was direct with Sharaf: "As for my opponent, congratulations, you caught me. A mistake on my end was made. It was your night." He pointed to his history of bouncing back from setbacks, referencing his wrestling career: "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 this won't deny me."

He closed by turning his focus toward his family: "Moving forward, I am going to keep focusing on my wife, my daughter, my family, and the work in front of me... 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."

WHAT'S NEXT

Steveson, 26, gave no timeline for a return to the octagon. Whether the defeat, and the attention surrounding fight week, will affect his career trajectory remains an open question, but his statement makes clear he intends to keep competing rather than step away from the sport.