Gable Steveson issues statement on UFC 331 loss, 2019 sexual assault arrest - MMA Junkie
Gable Steveson has broken his silence three days after UFC 331.
Steveson (4-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) was viciously knocked out by Sean Sharaf (5-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) in just 12 seconds Saturday in Los Angeles, marking the first MMA defeat for the Olympic gold medalist. It was a shocking moment as he became the biggest betting favorite ever to lose a UFC fight, and it was only a small piece of what many considered a disastrous PR week for him.
Prior to the fight, Sharaf went personal at the pre-fight press conference when he brought up Steveson's 2019 arrest for sexual assault. He called him "The Loophole," which is a non-affectionate nickname online fans have placed on Steveson after the prosecutor of the case alluded to how a loophole in the law may have contributed to his innocence.
Moreover, Steveson was relentlessly booed by fans at the press conference, ceremonial weigh-ins, on his walk to the octagon and his controversial exit following the crushing defeat.
It took several days after the fight, but on Tuesday, Steveson shared a lengthy statement on social media with his perspective on his checkered past, as well as addressing what went wrong inside the octagon at UFC 331.
This statement is for my family, my friends, my fans, and the people who truly know me and know the kind of man I am. I know there are people who will never support me, no matter what I say or do. that's their choice. But I'm speaking to the people who know me not just as an athlete, but as a husband and a father to a young daughter.
Prior to and during fight week, an incident from my college years was brought up by my opponent. I believe it was raised to get in my head, but it also reopened something that had been addressed years ago.
I want to be clear: I did not do anything alleged. I was never charged with a crime, and the matter was ultimately dropped by the district attorney. The allegations were not ignored nor brushed aside. They were thoroughly and heavily reviewed as I fully cooperated with law enforcement, including a separate Title IX review.
There were no criminal charges, no conviction, and no finding of responsibility against me.The matter was closed, and there is no pending legal issue involving me. my own attorney did their own investigation and stated on the record that even if the law was changed, I would have the same outcome, which now speaks for itself.
I understand how serious allegations like this are, and I understand that people may have questions when they hear only part of a story. Moving forward, I am going to keep focusing on my wife, my daughter, my family, and the work in front of me. To the people who support me, thank you. I know who I am. my family knows who I am. The people who have walked with me through life know who I am. That's what matters to me, and that's where I'm going to keep my focus.
As for my opponent, congratulations, you caught me. A mistake on my end was made. It was your night. Just like my wrestling days after my loss, I came back with an undeniable will to win and focus that led me to the top of my sport. The result of Saturday night, I believe, will catapult me to do the same. I will be great, and this won't deny me.
Steveson, 26, did not give a timeline for his planned return to the octagon, or what he expects for himself next.
Many questioned whether this defeat would deter him from continuing an MMA career, but it appears Steveson is determined to push forward and overcome a significant setback.
