Dana White dismissed criticism of Gable Steveson for leaving the cage immediately after his 12-second knockout loss at UFC 331.

Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling, suffered a stunning upset when Sean Sharaf knocked him out cold in the opening seconds of their heavyweight bout. Rather than remain for the official announcement, Steveson and his cornermen exited quickly. UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier, who called the fight, criticized the move during the broadcast.

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White Defends Steveson’s Cage Exit After Upset

The UFC president offered a different perspective when speaking to reporters after the event. “Obviously, he had huge expectations on himself,” White said, per MMA Junkie. “It happens. Forrest Griffin ran out of the octagon when he won the fight. These things happen.”

White used the knockout as another reminder that outcomes inside the Octagon remain unpredictable. He told reporters that he never assumes how a fight will unfold, which is why he dismisses premature judgments about fight cards before they happen.

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The loss represented a disastrous promotional debut for Steveson, whose signing drew scrutiny due to past sexual assault allegations. Sharaf referenced those accusations during fight week, and Steveson faced criticism for his responses to the comments.

Steveson’s next move remains unclear following the upset. Sharaf has used the victory to raise his profile in the heavyweight division.