Steveson On Sharaf Ahead Of UFC 331 Debut

Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson expects his UFC 331 opponent to cherish the moment of simply sharing the cage with him.

Steveson faces Sean Sharaf on Saturday's heavyweight card, entering as a heavy favorite. Training alongside former champion Jon Jones, the prospect has made a smooth transition to mixed martial arts and looks to add another finish to his early record. BJPenn.com reports that Steveson drew a striking comparison to frame the matchup.

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Steveson Invokes Tyson-McNeeley Comparison

"I feel like he's really excited to go out there and say, 'Hey, I fought Gable Steveson.' It's kind of like when Mike Tyson went against Peter McNeeley," Steveson said, per MMA Junkie. "Peter McNeeley was out here talking the whole world, everybody, saying, 'Hey, I got the chance to fight Mike Tyson.' Saturday will be that day for him and he'll go to be a regular citizen after that."

The reference points to Tyson's 1995 comeback fight after prison, a first-round destruction that served more as spectacle than competitive bout. Steveson clearly views Sharaf as an opponent who will define the experience by having faced him rather than by the outcome.

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Steveson has shown flashes of the athleticism that earned him Olympic gold in Tokyo, though the heavyweight division remains stacked with established contenders. A dominant performance Saturday would keep his upward trajectory intact and set up a more meaningful test later in 2026.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Gable Steveson is ready to make a statement at UFC 331