Legendary boxing trainer Teddy Atlas cites Gable Steveson's errors in Sean Sharaf KO loss at UFC 331

Gable Steveson is counted among the brightest prospects in all of MMA, with many touting him as a future UFC heavyweight champion. That said, Steveson's latest mixed martial arts matchup witnessed him suffer his first defeat in the sport. 

Steveson was stopped by knockout just 12 seconds into the very first round of his clash against Sean Sharaf at UFC 331 on September 19. Legendary boxing trainer Teddy Atlas has now chimed in with his assessment of -- what many fans and experts have deemed -- one of the biggest upsets in combat sports history. 

Teddy Atlas addresses Gable Steveson's technical errors in Sean Sharaf defeat at UFC 331

Gable Steveson is considered to be one of the best wrestlers representing the United States of America in recent years. At just 26 years of age, he holds the distinction of having notched an Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling (in the 125 kg category), having been a part of the WWE, and competing in the UFC as well. He entered the UFC 331 event boasting an undefeated record of 4-0 as an MMA fighter. 

On the other hand, Sean Sharaf entered their clash at UFC 331 with an MMA record of 4-2. He was coming off back-to-back TKO defeats against Junior Tafa in 2024 and Steven Asplund last year. Ergo, on paper, many foresaw Steveson dominantly defeating Sharaf. 

Regardless, the 33-year-old flipped the script by landing a hellacious left hook that seemed to put Steveson out instantly. A few ground strikes preceded the referee waving off the fight, which officially ended at the 12-second mark. 

Taking to his official X handle, Teddy Atlas weighed in on it, posting footage of the knockout sequence. The veteran boxing trainer suggested that Steveson's defensive mistakes cost him the fight. He indicated that the wrestling savant's movement pulled him right into the danger zone, worsening the impact of the oncoming left hook that incapacitated him. 

Atlas wrote, "It's power but as I say it's made possible by defensive flaws. Steveson reaches with jab then pulls back from rt. & into left hk. Bad technique. Sharaf was set with feet to deliver! Bang Bang!!" 

Check out Teddy Atlas's X post concerning Gable Steveson's fight with Sean Sharaf below: 

It’s power but as I say it’s made possible by defensive flaws. Stevenson reaches with jab then pulls back from rt. & into left hk. Bad technique. Sharaf was set with feet to deliver! Bang Bang!!🧨👏#ufc331 https://t.co/6qAqObY0Aq

— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) September 20, 2026

 

Jon Jones pupil Gable Steveson's quest for MMA glory hits a roadblock at UFC 331

In the aftermath of Gable Steveson's stunning loss at the hands of Sean Sharaf at UFC 331, a considerable number of fans and experts have expressed their concerns about how it might affect him psychologically. Some have even questioned whether he was rushed into the UFC a tad too early in his mixed martial arts career. He made his UFC promotional debut back in July, knocking out Elisha Ellison, and the Sharaf fight was his second inside the Octagon. 

That aside, Steveson -- a star pupil of MMA great and former two-division UFC champion Jon Jones -- is still counted among the top young fighters with great potential in the sport. Some netizens have rallied in his support during this challenging time, while others have criticized him for losing a fight in which he was a sizeable favorite.