Sean Sharaf, sitting at 0-2 in the UFC after two knockout losses, isn’t holding back on his upcoming opponent, former Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson. Heading into UFC 331 on Saturday night, Sharaf told reporters, straight up, “No, I’m not impressed” with Steveson, a fighter widely seen as destined for UFC stardom. That’s a bold claim when you are facing someone coming off an impressive promotional debut win at UFC 329 in July, and you’re stepping into the Octagon as a huge +900 underdog.
“We Just Say ‘Free Palestine.’ It’s Not a Crime.”
Sharaf, a 33-year-old United States Marine who served for six years, brings his own powerful story to the cage. Born to a father from Jerusalem who immigrated to the U.S. as a refugee, Sharaf is of Palestinian descent. He believes his background, especially with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict dominating headlines and rapper Macklemore recently dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour for his “Free Palestine” message, is worth telling. Sharaf, who’s from nearby Santa Ana, made it clear at Wednesday’s UFC 331 media day, “We just say ‘Free Palestine.’ It’s not a crime.” He stressed the desire to avoid civilian casualties, drawing parallels to his time in the Marines. “In Iraq and Afghanistan, the Marines I served with, there was rules of engagement,” Sharaf explained. “You have to go in there and do your job as a professional and take out the enemy and leave as little civilian casualties as possible.” He feels his story deserves the same promotional spotlight as any other fighter.
Sharaf’s Simple Plan for a Upset
The fight with Steveson at Crypto.com Arena is, by all accounts, set up to be a showcase for the heavily hyped Olympian. Steveson already has an impressive win under his belt in his first UFC appearance, while Sharaf is still looking for his first taste of victory in the promotion. But the former Marine isn’t letting any of that get to him. “It doesn’t bother me at all. I get it. They’re gonna push him, they’re gonna promote him,” Sharaf said. He just wants that same opportunity to promote himself and tell his story. His strategy to snag that first UFC win, despite the long odds, is refreshingly straightforward. “Hit, don’t get hit, leave with a bag full of cash,” Sharaf declared. He’s ready to prove that an Olympic gold medal doesn’t automatically win a fight. It’s fighting, after all.
UFC 331 goes down Saturday night, and every single fan will be watching to see if Sean Sharaf can back up his talk and pull off one of the biggest upsets of the year. He’s got a story to tell, and a statement to make, and it’s going to be one heck of a fight.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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