UFC’s Sean Sharaf Says Gable Steveson Slept on Him ... Big Mistake!!!

Two days later here now, I don't know if you've slept. You've come down from the high. What are you feeling as you've sort of had some time, I imagine, Son, to sit back and think about what you did Saturday night? Yeah, the sleep has definitely been minimal. I definitely didn't sleep at all for 24 hours after a fight, which is usually how it goes after a fight. And then I got like a couple hours yesterday. But yeah, man, I'm just charged up. I'm on top of the world right now. Can you put into words, can you describe what it felt like in that moment when you saw your referee wave it off, it's over, 11 seconds, this thing is done? I was shocked too, man. Don't get me wrong. Obviously, I believe in myself, but that fast. I've had a nine second knockout before on the regional scene. And I was always like, man, it's going to be so hard to top that. I don't know if I'll ever top that regional scene knockout I was like, oh, wow. Just the fact that it was just in LA and I'm from Orange County, right down the street, Santa Ana. And just the fact that all the odds are against me, man, it was just unreal. So when I hit him and he just fell, I was like, oh, I was like cussing while I was hitting him. I don't even know why. I just like went completely blacked out. And yeah, it was just amazing. The odds might've been against you. The crowd definitely wasn't though, because that building, everybody was pulling for you. At least that's the feeling that I got from sitting in the building there. I mean, it felt like an incredibly clean and powerful punch. And obviously looking at Gable's reaction, you see his eyes sort of roll in the back of his head. I mean, how hard did you hit him? And did it just feel like one of those punches when you know you hit him and you connected like, okay, he's not going to be able to withstand that. Yeah. I mean, I've always known I hit hard. That was actually one of my biggest flaws. Once I started knocking everybody, I had all first round knockouts. So I kind of like, you start believing your own hype and I was just like, oh, I just touch these guys and they fall. And then my first two fights in the UFC, these guys didn't fall. I caused damage and I was just like, man, what the hell's going on? You start doubting yourself and stuff like that. But yeah, brother, I know I got power in both hands and yeah, just God has blessed me and it was just amazing. It was unreal. I mean, clearly you believed in yourself, Sean. Is it hard or how hard is it when you're going in and people say, hey, you're the biggest underdog in the history of this entire promotion that's been around for decades? I mean, even if you do believe in yourself, I've got to imagine that you've got to say to yourself, do they know something I don't know? I mean, how do you deal with that? I mean, like I'm human, you know, I'm not going to act like I'd never doubted myself, but like, that's the battle, you know, of like, I've studied the subconscious mind. I've studied so many greats before me, how they talk about just like how it's all, it's all in your head, you know, what you believe and what you don't believe is your reality. And it was just like, every time you get those negative thoughts, you cancel it out with positive. And you're like, okay. And like you visualize the worst case scenario, but you also have to visualize the best case scenario. And it's just like, that was the constant battle. And like I keep, I keep giving the Marines credit, you know, I better get some kind of interview with the Marine Corps. Cause man, uh, they they've, they've instilled so many, so many principles in me, you know, so much, so many characteristics that I carry every day from like in bootcamp, I learned how to, they taught me how to tie my tie, shave, shave my face, you know, press my uniform. I grew up without a dad. I lost my dad when he was, when I was 15. And, um, yeah, I'm just like, I'm just on top of the world that, you know, all my training kicked in because like, like you, you get a chance to think about like certain combos and stuff like that. But like, I'm telling you, like I went out there and that was just like my training and like years of preparation that just kicked in. And, and, and that's, that's the way it was supposed to be. It was written. Yeah. I was going to say and put politics aside, but I feel like you're, you're like, Oh, to call from like, uh, Pete Hegseth or somebody, right. I mean, I don't know to go out there, right. And do that was pretty awesome. Yeah, no, it was cool. I talked to Kash Patel yesterday. Oh, no way. Yeah. Yeah. He's good. He's good friends with my management, with Ali Abdulaziz. So he gave him a call and, um, yeah, it's, it's, it's interesting, you know, like I'm, I'm in, I'm a bit of a paradox. You see, like, that's the problem is like some, my, my father's born in Palestine. He, from Jerusalem, he immigrated here. He was born in 1948 during the war. And, um, and, and, but I was born here, you know, and I served my country honorably. And I'm like, like, I was, it was kind of conflicted because like people, I was like, Oh, like, don't talk about the Palestine stuff because you're going to lose your military fan base. And then they're like, don't, don't talk about the military stuff. Cause you lose them. And I'm just like, bro, I'm just me, man. Like I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm America first. Like I served my country honorably. Like I, I want to see America do well. And, um, I like it's, it's the greatest country in the world, but I also like, I'm a human, you know? And like, I talked about in my previous interviews where it was just like, um, in war, there should be rules of engagement. Like there's just, I was, I thank God, like I wasn't in when these drones came around because that thing is like the most terrifying thing to have like some guy just be able to sit like a video game and like not even have to look you in the eye and just, you know, like it's, it's, I don't, this is not the war that, you know, like the Marines that I served with, like they kicked down doors in Sangin and Fallujah. Like they went door to door, like when they knew it was booby trapped, there was IEDs in there, they went in there and they looked the enemy in the eye and they took them out. And I think that's what a real hero is. And, um, yeah, so not to get into too much politics, everyone's like, stay away from that stuff. You know, like I'm just me, man. I'm just me. Well, I thought the moment, you know, with, uh, you know, talking about your dad and the prayer that was, uh, Lawson, that was incredible in, in the Octagon after the fight. Do you think, Sean, do you think some of the stuff, some of the things you brought up about Gable during fight week, do you think that got in his head at all? A hundred percent. It's called psychological warfare, brother. You know, like everyone thinks like this stuff is like, like I'm just a big idiot, but you know, like it's, it's, I, I knew he's, he, he had like, I honestly, I didn't even know about his history until like, I saw all the comments, like I was constantly seeing these comments with grape emojis, dude. And I was like, bro, like, what is going on? And like, I started doing some research and I was just like, oh, you know, and like, we're all flawed. We're all born as sinners. You know, I've, I've definitely had my mistakes and I'm not a perfect human. And, um, yeah, but I, I, I knew if I, if I brought up some of that stuff, you know, maybe he gets under his skin and maybe that, that was why he didn't shoot for a takedown or why it was, but either way, um, psychological warfare is a part of warfare. So if you're, if you're out there, use it. I heard you say, uh, as they were playing some of the packages and you were walking to the Octagon, they said, you know, they say, or you said he's the hottest prospect in MMA right now. If I beat him, then I am that. Do I get an Olympic gold medal? He may, he may have to. So I'm a white man, but that's like the funniest thing. Like I've, I've bounced around so many different MMA schools. Like I haven't really had like, uh, like I grew up like watching Rocky and like watching, like never back down. And like these like old school coaches that like custom auto and Mike Tyson, like they're like, they're like living, eating, breathing, like they're your sensei. And like, brother, I've been looking for that, but that's like gone in these days. Like now it's like, whoever's hot, like that's, that's, that was my problem with all the media. Like they just jump on whoever's hot, like whether it's Gaethje or Elliot, like Gaethje was getting no love. Then he goes and knocks them out. And suddenly everyone loves Gaethje when, when Pereira was going against Strickland and Strickland got knocked out, everyone was with Pereira and Pereira gets knocked out by Gain and everyone's, everyone's on Gain and Strickland beats Jermiah. And it's just like, it's just like these little clout demons. Like they just jump on you when you're hot. And when you're out, you know, they, they kick you to the curb and it's hurt business. You know, like I'm not sitting here, I'm not sitting here and acting like, I don't know the game, but yeah, just if you, if you stayed on that, if you were on that side, stay on that side. So that's all. Oh, you're exactly. It's so fickle. You're exactly right, Sean. And then you're, you know, yeah, you lose, you lose a fight or two in a row. And then yeah, it's like, nobody cares. I love my last two, you know, like my, I was, I was on the chopping block, like literally everyone was just like, he was in his interview. He's a sacrificial lamb. He's he's looking for a way out. And I'm like, bro, like I signed up for this brother. Like I signed the contract. Like I am definitely going to show up on fight night and I'm definitely here to ******* win. So that's like, that's another lesson. It's like, bro, you can't underestimate anyone. Like I said, he has two hands, he has two legs, he bleeds red and, and, and you can get touched, especially in the UFC. This is the ultimate fighting championship. And if you don't think that you can fall brother, you will find out sooner or later. I don't even know if it's possible to say Sean, cause he didn't, he didn't have the chance to really fight y'all, fight you all that long. But do you think he underestimated you? Do you think he bought into the hype? He did an RAF match. He did a, he was doing a wrestling match like the month prior. And that's what I knew. That's what I knew. I was like, oh, this dude's doing ****. He like, he's in fight camp and he's going to do another event. And like, I see, but it's draining to talk to all the media. I've only been doing this for like, like three days. I'm already like I don't want to keep my social batteries. I'm like an introverted guy, bro. I go hang out with my dog at the beach by myself. I don't talk to people, but it's like, I saw him like all the media, all the prayer, like everyone's like thinking he's the great everything. This is my bro. Like you, you, you better not ******* think I'm a gang, man, because I, I, I *******, I come to ******* win. You know, like, I don't care if I've lost. I don't care if I've been, I've never been put down, thank God, but you got willing, but it won't happen. But, um, I I've lost fights and I know that you're any man, any man can fall. So humble yourself. It's funny. You bring up the two previous fights, Sean, because I, I, and I know it's not a rule or anything, but I, you've seen guys that have lost three in a row and the UFC is like, all right, get packing. And not only do you not lose three in a row, but you win in the most spectacular way, you know, uh, underdog, we all know. And now you're one of the hottest prospects. It is kind of crazy how, how 10 seconds of your life can change everything. That's it, brother. That's it, man. It's just like, that's, that's the fight game for you. You know, like, I think there's a Teddy Atlas speech out there where he talks about it. He's like on any given night, you know, like one punch, you know, you can, you can change your whole life. You can change your, your, your fate. And, um, it's real, man. It's real. Fighting is like one of those sports where it's just like, you don't have to I wrestled in high school, but I was like, I lost every single wrestling match my freshman year, every single wrestling match. I lost my freshman year. I still talk to my wrestling coach from high school in Saddleback. I lost every match and in my sophomore year, my dad died in high school and like, like something switched in me. I got a little mad, a little matter at the world. And I won my first wrestling man. And then I didn't, I didn't even make it to CIF. I didn't place in I didn't do anything. And, um, and it's like, but I was able to beat, beat a guy that was an Olympic gold medalist. And, and obviously we're fighting, but it's just like, um, yeah, anything is possible in fighting brother. And that's why it's, I've been a fan of this sport since I was in high school, man, like ******* 15, 16 years. I've been watching this sport. It's incredible. That's what, did I see a picture of you two outside the outside staples center, Sean, like going to see a fight that I see on your Instagram? Oh yeah. No, no, no. My first live fight was at, so I got out the Marines in 2018 and right around October, September time. And I, uh, no, no, it was, uh, it was like June or July of 2018. And August was the Cody Garber versus TJ Dilla. And I still got the videos of like Cody walking out and TJ at this day. That was my first live event. So it was just the irony. And I had that I had waited in line for him at the expo. And, um, I told him, I was like, Hey bro, I just got at the Marines. Like I'm the biggest fan. So I've always said this. You can look back at my interviews, my top three, if I was like, if I wanted to be like any three fighters, it was Cain Velasquez, Mike Tyson, and John Jones. If I could put those three together, that's what I wanted, bro. Like that was the, like, you take a little bit of each fighter you like, and you kind of try to apply it to your style. And, um, yeah, bro, I've always studied Jones. Like I've, I've studied Jones, like, like you have no idea, you know? And, um, and just for, for me to, to go have him in a corner against, against me. And I even put, put it in my post like before I was just like, I'm looking forward to this, like an exam. I'm like, bro, like John Jones is going to be there to ******* test to, to, to be my ******* examinee. And, um, and I think I passed with flying colors. I'd say so. Right after you did it, I, I looked at John and just, just pure shock on his face, Sean, uh, shock. I, I, uh, yeah. I think, um, okay. What do you, cause I want to let you go and I know you're tired and you got other people to talk to. What's the kind of, what do you want to do from here? What's the vision look like now that everything is, is on the table. Everything's in front of you, Sean. Uh, bro, I had like so many injuries going into this fight already. Like I felt, I felt dirt. I was like, uh, uh, Strickland, my boy, I've been sparring Strickland since I was an amateur, man. This guy has been beating me up since I was a freaking amateur. And, um, he invited me to go dirt biking and shooting. He actually told me not to get on the dirt bike. He's like, bro, you've never been dirt biking. Don't dirt bike. He's getting the back of the truck. And I was like, **** that my ear. I was like, I could do the dirt bike. Cause I've, I've BMX before. Uh, long story short, I fell on my shoulder up. And like, that's why people saw, like I had some road rash on my shoulder. Um, but yeah, so I just want, and I have like a bunch of issues with the rest of my body. That's the thing is I have so many injuries, but I'm scared to disclose all of them because I get used against you and fighting. So, um, but yeah, to, to say the least, I, I, I need some time to recover and I'm just letting my body heal up. And I just want to enjoy the moment, you know, like that's, that's something I learned along this journey is we are always looking at what's next, what's next, what's next. And this is like, sometimes, bro, you just have to just take a moment and appreciate the moment for how hard you were to get here. And that's not to get too caught up on it and say like, oh, I'm *******, I'm going to hold on to this. But it's just like, I'm, I'm just not in a rush right now to jump to the next move. That's all. Yeah. I'll say this. It was absolutely awesome to be in the building, to watch that. I think that's like the very best of what the sport's all about. And, uh, when, you know, when nobody believed in you, obviously you went in there, you believed in yourself and you shocked the world. It was awesome, Sean. And I really appreciate your time. Thank you, bro.