Cormier and Rogan criticize Steveson's conduct after 12-second knockout at UFC 331
Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson was knocked out 12 seconds into his UFC 331 debut, and former champion Daniel Cormier and podcaster Joe Rogan said his post-fight behavior showed a need for further development.
Olympic gold-medalist Gable Steveson suffered a 12-second knockout loss to Sean Sharaf at UFC 331 on Saturday, ending his 4-0 start in mixed-martial arts. After the bout, Steveson rose from the canvas and left the octagon without staying for the official announcement or offering congratulations to his opponent, prompting criticism on social media.
Former UFC champion Daniel Cormier said Steveson "made some mistakes" and warned that a fighter must accept defeat without becoming "an ungrateful loser." He added that Steveson needs to learn from the experience and improve his attitude after a loss.
Podcast host Joe Rogan echoed the sentiment, suggesting that Steveson was overwhelmed by hype and expected to win easily. Rogan described the knockout as a "picture-perfect left hook" that caught Steveson off guard.
Both commentators noted that Steveson's transition from amateur wrestling to professional MMA is still in its early stages and that the loss underscores the challenges new fighters face in the UFC.