'Nobody Likes a Rapist': UFC Conference Gets Heated After Fighter's 2019 Sexual-Assault Case Is Mentioned

A tense moment occurred between two heavyweights during the press conference for the UFC 331 card on Thursday, 17 September, that has since spread on social media. Sean Sharaf, who is scheduled to face Gable Steveson, brought up the latter's 2019 arrest on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct.

When asked why he seemed to dislike Steveson, Sharaf stated, 'Nobody likes a rapist.' The confrontation came two days before the two are scheduled to meet inside the Octagon at Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena on Saturday, 19 September.

Sharaf, who has a 4-2 MMA record and is 0-2 in the UFC, had already made the accusation against Steveson on social media before doubling down during the official pre-fight press conference.

Sharaf Doubles Down on Allegations

During the conference, Sharaf was asked about his feelings towards his gold medalist opponent. He answered, 'I don't dislike the guy. Nobody likes a rapist. This guy raped a woman in 2019, and that's why everyone's booing him. You can't do that s**t. It's wrong.'

Steveson did not directly address the substance of the accusation and instead said Sharaf had already lost by bringing up his case.

'He's already lost by saying that,' Steveson said. 'He's a coward. He's already looking at the way out. He's looking at the way out of this opportunity. He's here because of me, and it should be a great opportunity to go against Gable Steveson.'

Sharaf then asked Steveson about an alleged opportunity to fight on UFC Freedom 250, which was held at the White House earlier this year. When Steveson denied being offered a fight for the card, Sharaf responded, 'Okay, loophole,' referencing a nickname that has circulated online about Steveson.

Steveson appeared to shrug off the insult, replying, 'That's a great name. I see a lot of people cheering, but we'll see how many people cheer when he gets flatlined Saturday night.'

The Alleged 2019 Incident

Sharaf's accusations stem from an incident in 2019 that eventually led to the arrest of University of Minnesota wrestlers Gable Steveson, then 19, and Dylan Martinez, 21, on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct.

On 15 June, a woman reported that she had been raped and went to a hospital for treatment. A Minneapolis police report later described an allegation that the two men had sexually penetrated the woman with an object.

However, since the case was an ongoing investigation, several details were not publicly revealed.

In December 2019, prosecutors announced that neither wrestler would be charged, citing inadequate evidence to fairly prosecute the case. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said there were conflicting accounts of what happened.

The allegations were never tested at a criminal trial because no charges were filed against either wrestler.

The "Loophole"

The 'Loophole' nickname that has circulated online in reference to Steveson relates to the legal controversy surrounding the 2019 case. At the time, Minnesota law placed specific limits on how prosecutors could apply the definition of 'mentally incapacitated' in cases involving voluntary intoxication.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said the law imposed significant constraints on prosecutors, while also citing inadequate evidence and conflicting accounts when explaining why charges were not filed against Steveson and Martinez.

The issue later reached Minnesota's courts and legislature. In 2021, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in State v. Khalil that the then-existing definition of 'mentally incapacitated' required the intoxicating substance to have been administered without the person's agreement.

The ruling concerned a separate criminal case and did not determine the facts of the Steveson investigation.

Minnesota lawmakers later amended the criminal sexual conduct statutes to address voluntary intoxication, including cases where intoxication leaves a person unable to consent.

Sharaf's statements at the UFC 331 press conference are allegations. Steveson was arrested in 2019 but was never charged, and there has been no criminal conviction establishing the accusation against him.