Sharaf Reveals How He Accumulated $600K Debt

Sean Sharaf spent $120,000 on a truck he couldn't afford and gambled away thousands more trying to meet Dana White in Las Vegas casinos, decisions the UFC heavyweight now calls "crazy" after revealing he accumulated $600,000 in debt before his 12-second knockout of Gable Steveson at UFC 331.

Sharaf, a former U.S. Marine who closed as a massive underdog, told ESPN MMA he borrowed money from his mother multiple times and took an advance on his fight purse from his management company just to pay for a training camp in Vegas. He currently lives with his mother in California and has no assets in his name, with banks calling him daily about the debt.

White Doubles Sharaf's Bonus After Upset Win

White gave Sharaf an additional $50,000 on top of the $50,000 promotional bonus from Paramount+ when he announced the fighter's debt situation publicly, per Sherdog. The knockout improved Sharaf's record to 5-2 and marked one of the biggest upsets in recent UFC heavyweight history.

"I just made a lot of very crazy financial decisions," Sharaf said. "So, I had a TRX I couldn't afford. Blew $120,000 on that thing. I was trying to help my mom sometimes. But more times I actually had borrowed money from her. I got an advance on my purse from my management so I could have my camp in Vegas… I gambled a lot of money when I first moved to Vegas. I was trying to meet Dana… I don't have anything in my name. The banks call you every single day… I think I'm getting a financial advisor."

Sharaf said he hopes his financial situation will stabilize now that he plans to hire an advisor to manage his earnings going forward.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — UFC 331 upset winner reveals ‘crazy’ decisions behind $600K debt