Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson is set to return to the Octagon sooner than anticipated, as the UFC has confirmed that he will compete against Sean Sharaf in a heavyweight clash at UFC 331. This exciting matchup is scheduled to take place on September 19 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Event Context
The fight card for UFC 331 saw four matchups announced by the promotion on Wednesday. This news comes shortly after Steveson made a successful debut in the UFC, securing a first-round TKO victory over Elisha Ellison at UFC 329.
Since their initial clash, Ortega has aggressively pursued the UFC featherweight championship on two occasions, facing defeats in title bouts against Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski. Meanwhile, Moicano stepped in on short notice for a lightweight title match against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 in January 2025, but was knocked out in the first round.
Additionally, UFC 331 will feature heavyweight contenders Tai Tuivasa and Robelis Despaigne squaring off, as well as a middleweight matchup between Ryan Gandra and Ozzy Diaz.
The promotion has yet to announce the main and co-main events for the evening. Speculation is growing around a potential rematch between Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira, although Brazilian journalist Leo Guimaraes has indicated that, should this fight be confirmed, it will not be for the BMF title.
Player Focus
The lightweight showdown has been almost ten years in the making. Ortega and Moicano first faced off at UFC 214 in July 2017, where Ortega won by submitting the Brazilian with a guillotine choke in the third round during a featherweight bout. They were scheduled to fight again at UFC 326 earlier this year, but Ortega had to pull out due to an injury, according to the Orange County Register.
Match Outlook
Steveson made a significant impact in his promotional debut, entering as one of the largest betting favorites in UFC history. The former Olympic wrestling champion proved his worth by delivering a stunning stoppage victory. While experts pointed out that certain aspects of his MMA skills could use improvement, the UFC quickly arranged his next fight.
He is set to face Sean Sharaf, who is eager to secure his first win in the UFC. The Anaheim native joined the promotion with an impressive 4-0 record but has faced setbacks with two consecutive knockout losses to Junior Tafa and Steven Asplund.
Before re-entering the Octagon, Steveson is scheduled to compete against Tony Cassioppi at RAF 12 on August 22. This fight will provide him with more experience as he hones his mixed martial arts abilities.
Additionally, the UFC has revealed three other matchups for UFC 331, including a much-anticipated rematch between Brian Ortega and Renato Moicano.
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According to Bloody Elbow, Sharaf was set to compete against Tai Tuivasa earlier this year but had to withdraw due to a fractured nose.
