Steveson breaks silence on loss and allegations

A quiet post-331 Tuesday belonged to fallout and paperwork. Gable Steveson finally addressed both his 12-second knockout loss and the fight-week allegations that dogged it, while Contender Series handed out six contracts on its most generous night ever. Elsewhere the champions made news for the wrong reasons: Sean Strickland walked away from a helmetless ATV rollover, and Dana White aired his contract feud with Paulo Costa in public.

Steveson breaks silence, answers Sharaf's 'loophole' taunts

Three days after his 12-second knockout loss to Sean Sharaf at UFC 331 — the biggest betting upset in UFC history — Gable Steveson issued a statement centered on the 2019 sexual-assault allegations Sharaf hammered throughout fight week. The Olympic gold medalist reiterated he was never charged, that the case was dropped for inadequate evidence, and insisted a changed law would not have altered the outcome. He also congratulated Sharaf, wrote 'you caught me,' and vowed to rebuild as he did after wrestling losses.

Why it matters: The allegations, revived as a fight-week tactic, now frame the fallout around the sport's most decorated wrestling prospect — and a 4-1 record that no longer carries any aura of inevitability.

DWCS makes history: six contracts, two of them to losers

Week 7 of Dana White's Contender Series produced six UFC contracts — the first time in the show's history that two fight-losers were signed. Piero Guaylupo and Callum Connor combined for nearly 400 significant strikes in a Fight of the Year contender that earned both deals, and Jaden Ortega was signed despite dropping a decision to Alvi Dasuyev. Marcos Degli, Carlos Prates's touted flyweight teammate, submitted Paris Moran with a standing one-armed rear-naked choke, and Damian Piwowarczyk scored a first-round TKO. Only headliner Norbert Novenyi Jr. won without earning a contract.

Why it matters: A deep, finish-heavy week restocks the lighter divisions — and White rewarding losers underlines how much the UFC now prizes action over unbeaten records.

Strickland walks away from 60-mph ATV rollover, spars next day

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland shared video of an ATV crash in Las Vegas in which he says the vehicle — driven by a friend at 60 mph — rolled six times while he wore no helmet. He escaped with scrapes; his friend was knocked unconscious and hospitalized. Strickland was back sparring shirtless at Xtreme Couture the next day. It echoes the 2018 motorcycle crash that sidelined him for nearly two years.

Why it matters: The champ is already nursing a shoulder injury that has delayed a rumored December title defense against Nassourdine Imavov — and joyriding helmetless is a needless way to jeopardize it.

Dana White rebuffs Costa: 'He's turned down fights'

Responding to Paulo Costa's public ultimatum, Dana White said the light heavyweight has been offered fights and declined them, dismissing the idea the UFC is freezing him out. Costa says he has one bout left on a deal priced for three rounds and wants either that fight, a five-rounder at higher pay, or an immediate release. White pointed out that even injured Tom Aspinall gets offered fights — the same mechanism that lets the UFC toll a contract indefinitely each time an offer is declined.

Why it matters: It's the familiar standoff of a name fighter trying to reach free agency: every rejected offer can extend Costa's deal, leaving him idle at 205 while champion Carlos Ulberg rehabs a knee.

Hearn eyes early-2027 Aspinall return as Gane calls him 'mentally fragile'

Manager Eddie Hearn said Tom Aspinall still wants to fight but won't be medically cleared until early 2027, with doctors telling the former heavyweight champ his eye 'will not pass the medicals' as is. Aspinall vacated the title last week after three surgeries stemming from the eye pokes in his UFC 321 no-contest with Ciryl Gane. Gane, now undisputed champ, twisted the knife, calling Aspinall 'fragile mentally' for how he handled the injury and communication around it.

Why it matters: Heavyweight moves on without its best fighter: Gane defends against Josh Hokit at UFC 334 in November while Aspinall's comeback slips into next year at the earliest.

Bryce Mitchell crosses over for Musumeci freakshow at UFC BJJ 11

UFC BJJ 11 lands Thursday at the Meta APEX, headlined by grappling ace Mikey Musumeci giving up size and self-imposed handicaps — no guard pulls, no butt-scooting, no leg locks — against UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell in a bantamweight show match. The more serious business is the co-main, where champion Mason Fowler defends his light heavyweight title in a rematch with CJI champ Nick 'Nicky Rod' Rodriguez, who beat him at Fight Pass Invitational 7 in 2024. It is also the promotion's first card behind the Fight Pass paywall rather than free on YouTube.

Why it matters: The Mitchell sideshow is pure eyeball bait, but Fowler-Rodriguez is a legitimate elite grappling title fight — the draw that has to justify the new paywall.

Tsarukyan cements title case, wonders if Gaethje would rather retire

Fresh off his first-round elbow knockout of Mauricio Ruffy, Arman Tsarukyan said the UFC told him both before and after UFC 331 that he's next for the lightweight title — but he questioned whether Justin Gaethje will actually fight him. Tsarukyan predicted the champ either retires, holds out for a big check, or picks an Ilia Topuria rematch he's already won. Israel Adesanya, meanwhile, handed Tsarukyan the blueprint: wrestle like Khabib did to submit Gaethje at UFC 254.

Why it matters: Gaethje, sidelined into 2027 with hand injuries, holds the leverage, and the logjam behind him — Topuria, Paddy Pimblett — keeps the 155-pound picture unsettled.

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