Gable Steveson has broken his silence.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) super prospect and Olympic gold medalist suffered his first professional loss this past weekend (Sat., Sept. 19, 2026), getting knocked out by Sean Sharaf in just 12 seconds on UFC 331’s main card inside Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California (watch highlights).
Three days after the historic upset, Steveson addressed the loss — along with the sexual assault allegation from his college years that Sharaf repeatedly referenced
during fight week — via social media.
“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,” Steveson wrote. “I know there are people who will never support me, no matter what I say or do. That’s their choice. But I’m speaking to the people who know me not just as an athlete, but as a husband and a father to a young daughter.
“Prior to and during fight week, an incident from my college years was brought up by my opponent,” Steveson continued. “I believe it was raised to get in my head, but it also reopened something that had been addressed years ago.
“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. The matter was closed, and there is no pending legal issue involving 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, which now speaks for itself.”
“I understand how serious allegations like this are, and I understand that people may have questions when they hear only part of a story. Moving forward, I am going to keep focusing on my wife, my daughter, my family, and the work in front of me. To the people who support me, thank you. 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, and that’s where I’m going to keep my focus.”
For context, Steveson and University of Minnesota wrestling teammate, Dylan Martinez, were arrested in June 2019 on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct after a woman reported that she had been sexually assaulted.
Neither man was formally charged.
Six months later, Hennepin County Attorney, Mike Freeman, announced there was, “inadequate evidence to fairly charge and prosecute” the case. Freeman explained that prosecutors must be able to prove criminal allegations beyond a reasonable doubt, acknowledging that Minnesota’s laws at the time restricted how his office could pursue cases involving intoxication and consent.
Under the law, which has since been updated, a voluntarily intoxicated person did not fall under the state’s definition of, “mentally incapacitated.” Minnesota lawmakers later changed the statute to permit prosecutions involving complainants who became incapacitated through voluntary alcohol consumption, creating what critics frequently called the, “intoxication loophole.”
However, Freeman never said that the legal restriction was the sole reason Steveson and Martinez were not charged. Or, that changing the law would have resulted in charges. Steveson’s attorney, Christa Groshek, maintained his innocence, arguing that a different statute would not have changed the case’s outcome.
And because no charges were filed, the allegation was never adjudicated at trial.
Steveson then addressed the catastrophic loss that brought his turbulent fight week to an abrupt end.
“As for my opponent, congratulations, you caught me,” Steveson wrote. “A mistake on my end was made. It was your night. 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.”
Steveson also faced heavy criticism for immediately leaving the Octagon without congratulating Sharaf or remaining for the official result. His coach, former UFC Heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, later took responsibility for the controversial exit, claiming it was his decision to escort his wounded prospect backstage.
The 26-year-old now owns a 4-1 professional record and remains one of the most decorated wrestlers ever to transition into mixed martial arts (MMA). His physical tools and wrestling resume have not disappeared overnight, but after suffering one of the biggest betting upsets in UFC history, the road toward Steveson’s promised greatness suddenly looks much longer.
