UFC 331 Proves You Can Never Count Out the Underdog

“Nobody in this sport should be a -2500 favorite.”

Those were the words uttered by Daniel Cormier on the UFC 331 Paramount+ broadcast after Sean Sharaf needed just one punch to knock out Gable Steveson. Given Steveson’s status and accomplishments in the world of wrestling, as well as the state of the heavyweight division, many expected that Sharaf was going to be a sacrificial lamb.

Even the MMA records stated such. Sharaf entered the UFC 4-0 in 2024, but he was finished in his two Octagon bouts before the night, losing to Junior Tafa and Steven Asplund. Steveson, meanwhile, went 3-0 on the regional scene before a first-round finish of Elsha Ellison at UFC 329.

Many expected that Steveson’s power and wrestling abilities would be too much for Sharaf. And on paper, things looked like this would be the case. But the fights are fought in the Octagon, not on paper.

It was a lesson we should have learned just last month on Dana White’s Contender Series. Bella Mir, the daughter of legendary former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, was just as much of a favorite against short-notice opponent Alex Apodaca. But Apodaca was ready for the challenge and brought her A-game, going on to win a decision in an odds-defying victory.

It’s one of the most beautiful things about sports, not just MMA. The underdog can still find a way to win.

And UFC 331 had plenty of that.

On the preliminary card, Michael Aswell Jr. was in a situation where he needed a victory. “The Texas Kid” had some stock as a 10-2 fighter when he entered the UFC in 2025, but things have not played out the way he’d like it. He entered UFC 331 1-3 in the Octagon; a loss surely would have marked the end of his tenure in the promotion.

Instead, Aswell used his striking and pressure to outwork Yoo Joo-sang to earn a narrow split decision win.

The main card opener saw Iwo Baraniewski in action; he entered 9-0 in professional MMA, with all first-round finishes. A lot of people thought that Baraniewski would blitz Alonzo Menifield and finish him quickly to earn a spot in the UFC’s light heavyweight rankings. Instead, Menifield weathered the storm and cracked Baraniewski on more than one occasion to take Baraniewski’s 0 and maintain his own placement.

Plenty of people thought that Patricio Pitbull’s time in the UFC would be done after UFC 331. Instead, Pitbull gave us a performance that reminded us of his time reigning on top as a world champion in Bellator, blasting Doo-ho Choi in a first-round finish.

Even Arman Tsarukyan, who was a favorite heading into his lightweight title eliminator co-main event, had a surprise in store. Not to take away from the power he possesses, but with his wrestling base, combined with facing a dangerous striker like Mauricio Ruffy, it would be fair to think that Tsarukyan would take him down and score a submission or get a TKO via vicious ground-and-pound.

Instead, Tsarukyan landed a pair of brutal standing elbows to crumble Ruffy out cold. And just like that, any doghouse Tsarukyan was in seemed to be ended and a title shot appears to be next.

But nothing could prepare anyone for that Sharaf knockout. And in one swift move, one punch – the only strike Sharaf even needed to throw and land in that matchup – he put his stamp on things. It’s the third-quickest finish in UFC heavyweight history. It’s one of the biggest odds-defying victories in the history of MMA, let alone the UFC. It impressed Dana White so much that he got the special “chaos” bonus they were giving out – and White even matched it to help Sharaf pay off some of his debt.

The band Spoon once sang “You got no fear of the underdog. That's why you will not survive.” Never doubt an opponent, especially in this sport. You just never know what might happen. That’s what UFC 331, one of the most entertaining numbered cards the UFC has held this year, showed us.