Sean Sharaf Calls Gable Steveson Rapist at UFC 331 Press Conference, Igniting Cont

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Sean Sharaf has escalated his UFC rivalry with Gable Steveson by publicly calling the Olympic gold medalist a “rapist” and later referring to him as “Loophole” during the UFC 331 pre-fight press conference, reviving controversy surrounding Steveson’s 2019 criminal sexual conduct investigation that did not result in charges.

The comments have added a personal dimension to Saturday’s heavyweight matchup in Los Angeles, where Steveson and Sharaf will meet on the UFC 331 main card. The fight was moved onto the main card after Brian Ortega’s bout with Renato Moicano was removed from the event after Ortega suffered an injury that forced the bout’s cancellation.

Watch the press conference moment here (h/t Championship Rounds on X): 

Sharaf’s Personal Shot at Steveson

Sharaf, who was on stage with Steveson at the pre-fight press conference, was asked what he thinks of Steveson.

“I don’t dislike the guy. Nobody likes a rapist. This guy raped a woman in 2019, and that’s why everyone is booing him. You can’t do that sh—, it’s wrong,” he responded.

Steveson quipped, “He’s already lost just by saying that. He’s a coward. He’s already looking at the way out. He’s looking at the way out of this opportunity.”

Despite being met with jeers from the press conference crowd, Steveson continued, “He’s here because of me, and this should be a great opportunity to go against Gable Steveson.”

Sharaf abruptly changed topics, asking Steveson, “Why did you turn down the White House card fight?”

A confused Steveson responded, “I actually didn’t get on the White House. What are you talking about?” 

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 11: Gable Steveson enters the Octagon during the UFC 329 event at T-Mobile Arena on July 11, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC)Getty

Sharaf fired back with a nickname for Steveson, bringing up his old rape case, saying, “Okay. Loophole.”

Steveson answered with sarcasm, “That’s a good name, right? That’s a great name. I see a lot of people cheering, but I mean, we’ll see how many people cheer when he gets flatlined on Saturday night.”

Sharaf, a former Marine, had previously questioned why the UFC was repeatedly promoting Steveson through collaborations with content creator Nina Drama, while he received far less attention.

“This is like the 4th collab they do with him. What’s up with that UFC? Guess Marines aren’t worthy of interviews, just rapists,” Sharaf wrote on Nina Drama’s Instagram post of her collaboration with the UFC and Steveson.

Where the ‘Loophole’ Nickname Comes From

The “loophole” nickname that Sharaf called Steveson originates from a specific Minnesota legal statute that became central to Steveson’s 2019 arrest, and references the legal mechanism that prevented charges from being filed. Steveson and his University of Minnesota wrestling teammate, Dylan Martinez, were arrested on June 15, 2019, on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct, but no charges were filed.

Jason Hartley from the MMA on Point YouTube channel explained the case in detail:

The term refers to what sexual assault victim advocates called the “voluntary intoxication loophole,” in which a victim cannot be considered legally “mentally incapacitated” under Minnesota law if they became intoxicated voluntarily.

This created significant legal hurdles for prosecutors during Steveson’s case because the alleged victim had consumed alcohol voluntarily. Under the statute, a person who is voluntarily intoxicated is considered legally capable of giving consent, making sexual assault charges exceptionally difficult to prove in such circumstances.

Despite the statute, the fact remains that no charges against Steveson and Martinez were filed, and their case was dismissed.

© Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

That same loophole came up in the 2021 Minnesota Supreme Court case, State v. Khalil. This time, however, widespread public outrage caused Minnesota’s state legislature to update the state’s criminal codes to legally protect victims who are voluntarily intoxicated to the point of being unable to give consent.

Lawmakers passed the Public Safety Omnibus Bill, which overhauled the state’s criminal sexual conduct statutes and explicitly removed the distinction regarding how a victim became incapacitated, allowing prosecution of sexual assault crimes regardless of whether an alleged victim’s intoxication was voluntary or involuntary.

Social media users have weaponized the term ever since Steveson’s UFC signing, with the “loophole” comment spreading rapidly across MMA forums and social platforms, becoming shorthand for the case.

Steveson Ignores Ridicule

Steveson responded to Sharaf’s comments during UFC 331 media day, calling the decision to bring up his 2019 allegation a sign of weakness. 

The Olympic gold medalist emphasized his focus on competition rather than personal attacks.

“I’m here to win,” Steveson said. “I’m not here to joke around. I’m not here to sh— talk. I’m not here to be rude to anybody. I’m here to win and go home, and that’s my whole objective.”

Steveson then addressed Sharaf directly, characterizing the personal attack as a sign of desperation. 

“If a guy is going to bring up certain things, that’s the coward coming out of him,” Steveson said. “It’s a guy showing up of his own free will to say, ‘Hey, I’m a sacrificial lamb,’ and that’s what he’s going to be Saturday night.”

Steveson, who is coached by retired UFC legend Jon Jones, enters as a massive betting favorite following his first-round knockout victory over Elisha Ellison at UFC 329 in July. UFC CEO Dana White praised the debut performance, saying during the post-fight press conference that Steveson “looked like a mixed martial artist.”

Sharaf is seeking his first UFC victory after suffering back-to-back knockout losses to Junior Tafa and Steven Asplund.

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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.