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Sean Sharaf’s 12-second knockout of Gable Steveson at UFC 331 changed the direction of his career in one punch. Two days later, the heavyweight explained that the win came while he was dealing with around $600,000 in debt, unpaid financial commitments and daily calls from banks.

Sharaf, 33, stopped Steveson in the opening seconds of their heavyweight bout in Los Angeles, delivering one of the event’s biggest surprises. He entered the fight with an 0-2 UFC record and said he felt he had little to lose, while Steveson arrived with major attention following his wrestling career and high-profile backing. The 33-year-old’s victory brought a $50,000 UFC performance bonus, which Dana White matched with another $50,000, giving the fighter a timely boost after years of financial trouble.

Sean Sharaf’s $600K Debt Confession After Shocking Gable Steveson KO

Speaking with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, Sharaf said his debt built gradually after he left the U.S. Marine Corps in 2018. He described a run of personal decisions involving an expensive truck, gambling, stock and options trading, and the costs of trying to establish himself as a fighter in Las Vegas.

“I just made a lot of very crazy financial decisions,” Sharaf said. “So, I had a TRX I couldn’t afford. Blew $120,000 on that thing.” [Ht Sherdog] The 31-year-old said he had sometimes tried to assist his mother financially, but he had more often needed to borrow money from her. Sharaf is currently living with his mother in California, and took an advance from his management to finance his training camp in Las Vegas ahead of the Steveson fight.

Sharaf said his move to Las Vegas more than two years ago was driven by a desire to get closer to the UFC. He hoped being around the UFC Performance Institute, major gyms and the company’s decision-makers would speed up his route to a contract. He even gambled after arriving in the city because he thought it could lead to a chance meeting with White, who is known to spend time in casinos.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 19: Sean Sharaf knocks out Gable Steveson in a heavyweight fight during the UFC 331 event at Crypto.com Arena on September 19, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

That plan did not produce the result he wanted. The Palestinian-American said he “gambled a lot of money” after moving to Vegas, while also admitting to making poor financial choices after leaving military service. He has continued investing in stocks and options, though he acknowledged he had spent money he could have avoided losing.

The debt has affected everyday life. The former US Marine said he has little or nothing in his own name and receives regular contact from banks. He said bankruptcy had crossed his mind as a way to clear the slate, though he did not say he had filed. His immediate plan is more practical: hire a financial adviser and start addressing the situation.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 19: Sean Sharaf reacts after a knockout victory against Gable Steveson in a heavyweight fight during the UFC 331 event at Crypto.com Arena on September 19, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

“I think I’m getting a financial advisor,” Sharaf said. The payday from UFC 331 does not erase a reported $600,000 debt on its own, but it gives Sharaf more room than he had before Saturday night. The win may also create sponsorship and media opportunities that were difficult to secure during his early UFC run.

Sharaf said fighters often need victories before brands, interviews and outside support arrive. There is a family element behind the story too. Sharaf has spoken often about wanting to help his mother retire. She has worked at Quest Diagnostics for 25 years as a blood chemist, and Sharaf said she is 66 and still working because Social Security alone would not provide enough to retire comfortably. He hopes she can leave work this year, though he said she was unhappy that her finances became part of the public conversation.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 19: Sean Sharaf (L) of the United States fights Gable Steveson of the United States in their heavyweight bout during UFC 331: Van v Pantoja 2 at Crypto.com Arena on September 19, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)