Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf: UFC 331 AI Prediction, Results and Highlights
Results and highlights will be added after the fight. The original pre-fight prediction will remain unchanged.
Gable Steveson has barely needed his Olympic-level wrestling since entering MMA.
The heavyweight is 4-0 with four knockouts — all in the first round — and makes his second UFC appearance Saturday against Sean Sharaf at UFC 331 in Los Angeles.
Sharaf is 4-2, and all four of his professional victories have also come by first-round knockout.
Someone’s preferred pace is likely to be tested quickly.
UFC 331’s main card begins at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount+ from Crypto.com Arena.
What Steveson Has Shown So Far
Steveson’s combat-sports résumé is unlike almost anyone else entering the UFC heavyweight division.
He won an Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling and captured two NCAA Division I championships before transitioning to MMA.
Steveson won his first three professional fights by first-round stoppage before signing with the UFC.
His promotional debut against Elisha Ellison at UFC 329 ended at 2:31 of Round 1, when Steveson hurt Ellison with a left hook before finishing with strikes along the fence.
Athlon previously covered Steveson’s transition from Olympic wrestling to the UFC.
Sharaf Brings Real Heavyweight Power
Sharaf is not a high-volume point fighter.
The 260-pound heavyweight has four professional victories, all by knockout and all in the first round. His UFC profile lists finishes in as little as nine seconds and 1:10.
He has also been stopped in both of his UFC losses.
Steven Asplund defeated Sharaf by second-round TKO in December after the two heavyweights produced a Fight of the Night slugfest. UFC described Sharaf’s early shots as heavier before Asplund’s pace eventually overwhelmed him.
That makes Sharaf dangerous, but it also gives Steveson several paths to victory.
AI Prediction
The Athlon Sports MMA Team model scores seven categories from 1-100 and does not use betting odds.
Category | Gable Steveson | Sean Sharaf |
|---|---|---|
Style — 25% | 96 | 80 |
Recent Form — 20% | 99 | 72 |
Resume — 15% | 88 | 78 |
Damage — 15% | 94 | 82 |
Weight — 10% | 93 | 94 |
Cardio — 10% | 84 | 82 |
Intangibles — 5% | 94 | 83 |
Weighted Score | 93.5 | 80.2 |
Prediction | |
|---|---|
Pick | Gable Steveson |
Projected result | TKO, Round 1 |
Winner confidence | 81% |
Method confidence | 69% |
Most likely alternative | Sharaf by first-round knockout |
Deciding factor | Steveson’s wrestling changes the geometry of the fight even if he never shoots. |
Sharaf cannot simply plant his feet and load up because Steveson can change levels at any moment. That threat can force a heavyweight striker into a more defensive stance, which creates openings for Steveson’s improving hands.
The model also heavily favors Steveson’s current trajectory.
He has finished all four opponents in the first round, while Sharaf has been stopped in both UFC appearances.
At heavyweight, especially against a fighter with Sharaf’s power, one exchange can erase every technical advantage.
Still, the model sees Steveson as the significantly more complete athlete with the better momentum and the single biggest stylistic weapon in the matchup.
Athlon’s UFC 2026 schedule tracks the rest of the promotion’s calendar, while the Joshua Van-Alexandre Pantoja UFC 331 prediction covers Saturday’s title main event.
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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.