Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf
UFC 331 · September 19, 2026 · Crypto.com Arena · Prelims 6:00 PM ET
The brief
- What kind of fight
- Wrestling prospect vs. all-or-nothing puncher
- Finish likelihood
- High
- The line
- No line posted yet
- The stakes
- Heavyweight · Prelims
The read
Steveson is the pick given his wrestling pedigree and finishing instincts so far, but this is a live opponent who has both won and lost every fight of his career by knockout.
If Steveson uses his takedowns early and often, this should be a dominant showing; if he engages in a standup exchange instead, Sharaf's power makes it a real live-underdog spot.
Expect Steveson to test his wrestling against a true puncher and get the finish.
The matchup
Every fight of Sharaf's career has ended by knockout, for or against him, which sets up a live boom-or-bust litmus test for Steveson's undefeated start.
Steveson's collegiate and Olympic wrestling pedigree gives him an obvious path to neutralize a pure boxer, but he has yet to face anyone with Sharaf's one-punch power, and all four of Steveson's wins have come without needing to lean on a takedown so far.
Tale of the tape
| 4-0 | Record | 4-2 |
| 26 | Age | 33 |
| 6'1" | Height | — |
| — | Reach | — |
| — | Stance | — |
| United States | Country | United States |
| — | Team | Xtreme Couture |
The numbers
Career UFC averages. Red bar = statistical edge.
The fighters
Gable Steveson 4-0
Gable Steveson is a 26-year-old American heavyweight, a 2020 Tokyo Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA champion in freestyle wrestling who turned to MMA after a brief WWE run. He is undefeated at 4-0 with every win coming by knockout, capped by a first-round finish of Elisha Ellison in his UFC debut at UFC 329 in July 2026. He now makes his second Octagon appearance against fellow heavyweight Sean Sharaf.
Has never lost.
- WElisha Ellison · KO/TKOUFC 329 · July 11, 2026
Sean Sharaf 4-2
“The Smoke”
Sean "The Smoke" Sharaf is a 33-year-old American heavyweight of Palestinian heritage training out of Xtreme Couture, whose every professional win and loss has come by knockout. He is 0-2 in the UFC, stopped by Junior Tafa in his 2024 debut and by Steven Asplund in a Fight of the Night effort in December 2025, and now faces an Olympic wrestling champion in Gable Steveson looking to avoid a third straight knockout loss.
- LSteven Asplund · KO/TKO (strikes)UFC Fight Night · December 13, 2025
- LJunior Tafa · KO/TKO (strikes)UFC Fight Night · October 12, 2024