Anthony Wint continued to make waves in the UFC heavyweight division this past Saturday. At UFC 332 in Salt Lake City, Wint swiftly secured a devastating knockout over Lucas Armand in just 23 seconds during his second fight in the Octagon. This marked the fifth time in his undefeated nine-fight career that he finished an opponent in less than a minute. Former NFL linebacker for the New York Jets, Wint immediately set his sights on his next potential opponent, calling out Sean Sharaf.
Speaking on Monday’s episode of “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Wint revealed he has yet to speak with his agent but confirmed they are aware of his desired matchup. Sharaf recently shocked fans by knocking out Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson in only 12 seconds at UFC 331, a stunning upset that made headlines. “On paper, it makes sense,” Wint told Uncrowned. “Stylistically, it’s a step up. Sean is better than anyone I’ve faced so far. He’s experienced, but now it’s up to him.”
Wint mentioned having trained alongside Sharaf prior to earning his UFC contract through the Contender Series in August. Ahead of Sharaf’s camp for the Steveson fight, Wint acted as a sparring partner, simulating the role of Sharaf’s opponent to help sharpen his preparation. “I told him if I were Gable, I’d try to take your head off, go for the knockout,” Wint explained. Reflecting on his fight with Lucas Armand, Wint knew he could wrestle him given Armand’s weaker wrestling skills compared to his striking, but Wint always prefers going for the knockout because it’s better for marketing and can lead to bonuses.
Although Wint is calling out Sharaf and aiming to capitalize on Sharaf’s rising popularity, he emphasized there is no personal animosity between them. “Sean’s a great guy,” Wint said. “I hope he doesn’t take it the wrong way. We’re just fighters at the end of the day. This would be a big step up in risk but also reward. The ball’s in his court.” He also added he’d be happy to train with Sharaf again if they don’t end up fighting.
For now, Wint is enjoying the spotlight from another rapid victory, though he admitted he’d like the chance to showcase more of his skills in future bouts. “I tell my coaches I feel like a crackhead after these fights,” he joked, referring to how fast his wins come despite his intense training. Having earned five wins in under 40 seconds so far, Wint admitted he knows he has even more to offer but his opponent simply didn’t pose a threat.
Although knockouts have been Wint’s trademark throughout his nine-fight MMA career—he’s only gone the distance once, winning by split decision in March 2025—he remains aware of his limitations as he continues climbing the heavyweight ranks. “It’ll be tough for less capable or less experienced fighters to beat me because I study myself well,” he stated. “I know my weaknesses—explosiveness, cardio, inexperience—and those are the areas I focus on improving in the gym.”
Wint recognizes that perfection in MMA is rare, citing former two-division champion Jon Jones as an exception. To him, success comes from exploiting opponents’ weaknesses first. “Everybody has limits,” Wint said. “I’m aware of mine, so I work on them constantly. When an opponent tries to attack those areas, I close those paths and force them to adjust elsewhere.”
Fan Take: Anthony Wint’s rapid rise and dominant performances make him one of the most exciting prospects in the UFC heavyweight division. If he faces and defeats Sean Sharaf, this fight could shake up the heavyweight landscape and inject fresh momentum into the sport’s most thrilling weight class.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
