Ex-UFC star laments the state of its heavyweight division, talks Gable Steveson's mistakes against Sean Sharaf

Gable Steveson's most recent Octagon appearance witnessed him suffer the first defeat of his professional MMA career.

He was at the receiving end of a gruesome knockout at the hands of Sean Sharaf in their heavyweight matchup, which transpired at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, September 19. 

The defeat sent shockwaves across the mixed martial arts and broader combat sports community, as Steveson was a notable favorite in the match and is considered by many to be a UFC heavyweight champion in the making. 

Former UFC lightweight star Josh Thomson has chimed in with his assessment of Steveson's mistakes, in addition to lamenting the state of the UFC heavyweight division. 

Josh Thomson outlines how a simple strategy could've prevented Gable Steveson's loss to Sean Sharaf; laments the UFC heavyweight division's state

Veteran boxing trainer Teddy Atlas and a number of other fight game experts criticized Gable Steveson for his apparent defensive errors in the striking department in his brief fight against Sean Sharaf. Atlas expounded upon the positional mistake the young fighter made, which led to his being KO'd just 12 seconds into the fight. 

On that note, MMA fighter-turned-analyst Josh Thomson seemed to echo similar sentiments. "The Punk" suggested that Steveson was circling away with his eyes closed and chin unprotected. The American indicated that his compatriot ought to have efficiently utilized his Olympic-level wrestling pedigree, used a straightforward 1-2 striking combination to set up his takedown, and gotten Sharaf to the mat. 

In an X post featuring imagery of Steveson's KO loss, Thomson attached the following statement: "I spent most the day wondering why the hell an Olympic gold medalist would back up circling away with his eyes closed and chin in the air when the whole game plan should have always been... Get in his face and throw 1,2 into your takedown/Body. Hindsight 20/20." 

I spent most the day wondering why the hell an Olympic Gold medalist would back up circling away with his eyes closed and chin in the air when the whole game plan should have always been… Get in his face and throw 1,2 into your takedown/Body. Hindsight 20/20 https://t.co/NJYt00egqt

— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) September 21, 2026

Moreover, a fan appeared to express their respect for Sharaf but lamented the state of the UFC heavyweight division, citing that Steveson was 4-0 and Sharaf was 4-2 going into the much-hyped fight. The X user implied that it was more of a regional-level clash rather than a world-class UFC matchup. Thomson, in response to the apparent lamentation about the UFC heavyweight division's state, seemingly concurred by writing, "Agree." 

@JakeLivernois @WeighingIn Agree

— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) September 21, 2026

UFC 331 -- Gable Steveson MMA setback comes in the aftermath of a spectacular UFC debut

Gable Steveson notched Olympic gold in freestyle wrestling, in the men's 125 kg category, back in 2020. He also dabbled in the sport of American Football, trying his hand in scripted sports entertainment in the WWE as well. Nevertheless, the 26-year-old has, in recent times, extensively focused on achieving MMA glory. 

Training under the guidance of former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Jon Jones and Greg Jackson, he swiftly made a name for himself with a 3-0 run outside the UFC. His UFC promotional debut came on the Conor McGregor-headlined, stacked UFC 329 card in July. 

Steveson spectacularly bested Elisha Ellison via first-round KO at the event. His very next fight -- the left hook-induced KO defeat against Sean Sharaf at UFC 331 -- is believed to have halted his momentum in a significant manner. Team Steveson have, however, vowed to rebuild from that and return triumphantly.