Wint calls out Sharaf after 23-second UFC 332 knockout: 'I think I'm better than him'

Anthony Wint wasted no time after his 23-second first-round knockout of Lucas Armand at UFC 332 on Saturday, calling out Sean Sharaf in his post-fight interview and doubling down on the challenge when speaking to reporters later that evening.

Sharaf had become one of the most talked-about heavyweights in the UFC after pulling off a massive upset against blue-chip prospect Gable Steveson at UFC 331, and Wint made clear he sees that rising profile as both an opportunity and a measuring stick.

“I want to fight in New York and obviously, this short notice it’s hard to get that call, especially for the biggest card of all year,” Wint said, referencing the UFC 334 card scheduled for November 14. “I love Sean. There’s no beef between me and Sean. He actually gave me a ride from the P.I. to my hotel when I was over there, so we had a good conversation just about his journey.”

Wint framed the callout as a favour as much as a challenge, arguing that a fight between the two unbeaten heavyweights would give Sharaf another platform to silence his critics — while insisting he expects to come out on top.

“I’m giving him an opportunity as well because I think he has the skills and we’ve seen that he has the power to put me out,” Wint said. “I think I’m better than him and I think a lot of people would agree with me. He has a big fan base now, they’re going to be like, ‘Go out there and knock this dude out again,’ and I think that makes for a great fight.”

Wint was also asked about Josh Hokit, who headlines UFC 334 against Ciryl Gane with heavyweight gold on the line. Should Wint land on the same card, a face-off between the two could be difficult to avoid. Wint was measured in his response, stopping short of direct criticism while acknowledging the potential awkwardness.

“Obviously, Josh goes at people all the time, and I’ve mentioned his name a bunch of times, but there’s nothing bad for me to say about Josh,” Wint said. “Am I a fan of his antics? No, but I don’t pay his bills. He said before, I wasn’t with him when he got cut from the NFL and had to figure stuff out. I can’t think about a presser because I don’t know what spirit he’s going to be in when he sees me.”

With his unbeaten record intact and a high-profile callout already on the table, Wint is positioning himself as one of the more intriguing names in a heavyweight division that has rarely been more active.