Sean Sharaf Studied Jon Jones and Conor McGregor Before Knocking Out Gable Steveson at UFC 331

Sean Sharaf shared how he adopted the psychological tactics famously used by Conor McGregor and Jon Jones ahead of his matchup with Gable Steveson, who is a close friend and protégé of Jones, at UFC 331.

<p>Coming off two consecutive losses, Sharaf was considered a major underdog, but he shocked everyone by knocking out Steveson in just 12 seconds.</p>

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    <img decoding="async" width="612" height="408" alt="UFC 331 knockout" src="https://cdn.lowkickmma.com/2026/09/gettyimages-2296152723-612x612-1-1.jpg" style="width:711px; height:auto;" />
    <figcaption>LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 19: Gable Steveson reacts after being knocked out by Sean Sharaf in a heavyweight bout at UFC 331, held at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)</figcaption>
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<p>Following his stunning knockout victory, Sharaf explained on the WEIGHING IN Podcast how he used mental games to unnerve Steveson. At the press conference, Sharaf brought up Steveson’s controversial history, which led to widespread criticism and boos from fans.</p>

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    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
        <p>Sean Sharaf to Gable Steveson at the UFC 331 press conference 😬</p>
        <p>"Nobody likes a r*pist. This guy r*ped a woman in 2019, and that's why everyone is booing him. You can't do that sh*t, it's wrong."</p>
        <p>"Okay, loophole."</p>
    </blockquote>
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<p>After the tense exchange at the presser, Steveson avoided eye contact during the UFC 331 faceoff and later disabled comments on his social media posts.</p>

<p>Trash talk can deeply affect a fighter’s mindset inside the cage, and this appeared to disrupt the 2020 Olympic gold medalist’s focus and performance.</p>

<p>Fans have long recognized the impact of psychological warfare employed by stars like Conor McGregor and Jon Jones. At UFC 331, “The Smoke” once again demonstrated that a fight can be won mentally even before stepping into the octagon. The 33-year-old stated:</p>

<blockquote>
    <p>“Another part is psychological warfare. I’ve studied Jon Jones, and you saw Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor. That is a real thing. You say something before the fight, and if it irks somebody the wrong way, they’re not gonna be thinking as level-headed.”</p>
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<p><em>Watch Sharaf’s full remarks below:</em></p>

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    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
        <p>🚨 Sean Sharaf says he was inspired by Jon Jones and Conor McGregor to use psychological warfare to get into his opponent's head.</p>
        <p>🗣“Another part is psychological warfare. I've studied Jon Jones since…, and you saw José Aldo and Conor McGregor.”</p>
        <p>🗣“That is a real thing. You…”</p>
    </blockquote>
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