The UFC has officially beefed up its UFC 331 line-up, announcing three new contests for the event scheduled for 19 September at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Among the additions is the second UFC appearance of heavyweight prospect Gable Steveson, who continues his transition from Olympic wrestling champion to mixed martial arts contender.
Steveson, who carries an unbeaten professional MMA record, will face Sean Sharaf in a heavyweight bout. The matchup comes only weeks after Steveson made a successful UFC debut, finishing Elisha Ellison in the opening round and further building the hype around one of combat sport’s most closely watched newcomers.
Another major addition sees Australian heavyweight Tai Tuivasa return to the Octagon against Robelis Despaigne. For Tuivasa, the fight represents a crucial opportunity to halt a lengthy losing streak and re-establish himself in one of the UFC’s most unpredictable divisions. Despaigne returns to the promotion with renewed momentum after finding success outside the UFC, including a high-profile knockout win over former champion Junior dos Santos.
The third newly confirmed fight is a middleweight contest between Ryan Gandra and Ozzy Diaz. Gandra has impressed early in his UFC run, while Diaz enters looking to bounce back after suffering a setback in his most recent appearance.
Despite the latest additions, UFC 331’s main event remains unannounced. Even so, the promotion is steadily assembling a card featuring emerging prospects, established veterans and fighters facing career-defining moments. With Steveson’s development under heavy scrutiny and Tuivasa fighting to keep his UFC hopes alive, the newly announced bouts provide several compelling storylines heading into September
