When the final betting lines locked in for UFC 331, Gable Steveson carried the expectations of a towering -1900 favorite. Steveson was widely expected to clear his path with minimal friction. What unfolded in the opening frame instead was a stark demonstration of fight-night variance: underdog Sean Sharaf, entering as a massive +1000 underdog, landed decisive power in the first round to secure an unexpected knockout victory.
Market Reaction and Stoppage Props
Pre-fight market pricing reflected strong confidence in a fast finish, though oddsmakers anticipated that outcome almost exclusively in Steveson's favor. The total rounds line favored an early end, with Won't go 3 rounds priced heavily at -1800. Sharaf inverted those expectations immediately, landing a clean stoppage in Round 1 and flipping the prop markets upside down.
For bettors looking for high-yield returns, Sharaf’s early finish delivered across several prop categories. Sharaf winning inside the distance cashed at a lucrative +1300 price tag, highlighting the inherent volatility whenever power punchers meet inside the cage.
Underdog Surges Across the UFC 331 Card
Sharaf’s opening-round stoppage led a chaotic night where longshots repeatedly upended favored fighters throughout the event:
- Patricio Freire (+220) secured an explosive victory over Doo Ho Choi (-270) via first-round knockout, hitting the inside-the-distance prop at +575.
- Marlon Vera (+190) finished Charles Jourdain (-230) with a third-round knockout, cashing the +195 line on fight not going 3 rounds and +350 for a stoppage win.
- Alonzo Menifield (+180) outworked Iwo Baraniewski (-220) over three full rounds to earn a decision win, triggering a +1000 decision prop and a +500 payout on the fight distance.
- Michael Aswell (+215) earned a three-round decision victory over Joo Sang Yoo (-260), delivering a +325 payout on the decision prop.
Favored Competitors Hold Their Ground
Despite the evening's run of upsets, several top market favorites managed to navigate their fights as projected. Arman Tsarukyan (-320) turned in a sharp performance, stopping Mauricio Ruffy (+260) with a first-round knockout to hit his -160 inside-the-distance line. Robelis Despaigne (-700) defeated Tai Tuivasa (+500), enduring three complete rounds to claim a decision victory that cashed at +850.
In a tightly contested five-round match, Josh Van (-130) outlasted Alexandre Pantoja (+110) to secure a decision victory. Van's win cashed the Will go 5 rounds market at -220 and hit his individual decision prop at +325. Additionally, Casey O'Neill (-190) earned a first-round submission against Eduarda Moura (+160), while Joanderson Brito (-400) recorded a first-round knockout against Giga Chikadze (+315).
Selected UFC 331 Betting Outcomes
| Fighter (Odds) | Opponent (Odds) | Method of Victory | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sean Sharaf (+1000) | Gable Steveson (-1900) | Knockout | Round 1 |
| Patricio Freire (+220) | Doo Ho Choi (-270) | Knockout | Round 1 |
| Marlon Vera (+190) | Charles Jourdain (-230) | Knockout | Round 3 |
| Arman Tsarukyan (-320) | Mauricio Ruffy (+260) | Knockout | Round 1 |
| Josh Van (-130) | Alexandre Pantoja (+110) | Decision | Round 5 |
| Robelis Despaigne (-700) | Tai Tuivasa (+500) | Decision | Round 3 |
Sources
These sources formed the evidence pack for this article. Links open the original publisher; inclusion does not imply endorsement.
- achievement.org original
- fightjunkie.com original
- aapf.org original
- symbolab.com original
