MMA News

Tag: Chael Sonnen

  • Chael Sonnen Suggests Sean O’Malley Could Challenge Ilia Topuria In UFC Return: ‘It’s Not A Crazy Idea!’

    Chael Sonnen Suggests Sean O’Malley Could Challenge Ilia Topuria In UFC Return: ‘It’s Not A Crazy Idea!’

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen sees no reason why the promotion couldn’t pair featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria with Sean O’Malley next year.

    O’Malley ignited talk of pursuing two-division glory following Topuria’s rise to the 145-pound throne at the start of 2024. At the time, “Suga” occupied top spot in the bantamweight division and would soon add a successful defense to his reign at the expense of Marlon Vera.

    With work still to do in his own weight class, O’Malley instead met the challenge of Merab Dvalishvili. The Georgian proved to be an insurmountable hurdle for the Montana native inside the Sphere in September, where “The Machine” cruised to a title crowning.

    With that, a possible superfight with “El Matador” appeared to take some damage. But despite O’Malley putting his sights on redemption against Dvalishvili and a second stint with 135-pound gold in his possession, Sonnen has questioned why Topuria is now out of the question.

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, “The American Gangster” pointed out that Alex Pereira’s rise to a second title was made possible by his knockout loss to Israel Adesanya.

    Believing it to be easier to move up without a title, Sonnen doesn’t see a clash between Topuria and bantamweight contender O’Malley in 2025 to be a “crazy” idea.

    “One of the big talking points this week is what could have been. What could have been with a superfight between Sean O’Malley and Ilia Topuria, how massive that could have been,” Sonnen said. “The thing holding up a superfight between Topuria and Sean O’Malley is not Merab or Merab getting a decision over Sean or Sean not being the champion. It is none of those things. That is not true. Had Sean won, he and Ilia Topuria would not be fighting. They had not cleaned out their divisions, respectively.

    “If I’m right, but you’re also right in that that’s the massive fight, we can now make it and we can make it right now. The thing in the way of it (was) Sean being the champion at 135. They can now do that fight,” Sonnen continued. “The quickest way you’re ever gonna get Pereira vs. (Tom) Aspinall or Pereira vs. (Jon) Jones…(is) if Pereira is to lose at light heavyweight. That is how we got Pereira to the 205-pound class to start with. … It’s not a crazy idea. … What if he (O’Malley) did take 10 or 12 months? 10 or 12 months to put on some size and he comes right up and challenges Ilia Topuria.”

    It remains to be seen whether O’Malley or the promotion may have the same idea as Sonnen down the line. For now, it appears that “Suga” is intent on avenging his loss to Dvalishvili once healed from the surgery he underwent to repair a torn labrum last month.

    Topuria, meanwhile, appears likely to run it back with Alexander Volkanovski next year after getting past Max Holloway in his first defense in October.

  • Chael Sonnen ‘Not Sold’ On Khamzat Chimaev’s Size As A UFC Middleweight 

    Chael Sonnen ‘Not Sold’ On Khamzat Chimaev’s Size As A UFC Middleweight 

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen isn’t sure that Khamzat Chimaev is currently competing in the ideal weight class.

    Chimaev is days out from likely the biggest fight of his career, as he gears up to do battle with former middleweight champion and #3-ranked contender Robert Whittaker in the UFC 308 co-main event.

    The five-rounder in Abu Dhabi marks the undefeated fighter’s first outing in over a year. That’s after numerous illnesses and injuries kept him out following a win over Kamaru Usman in his return to 185 pounds.

    “Borz” went back up in weight after a debacle on the scale that saw him come in well over the welterweight limit for a subsequently canceled 2022 pay-per-view headliner against Nate Diaz.

    While many welcomed that change and believe the door is now shut on a 170-pound future for the Chechen star, Sonnen sees things differently, as he explained during a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel.

    Sonnen touched on the coaching change Chimaev has made to his camp, which he believes will be nothing but beneficial. But “The American Gangster” remains unsure if “Borz” can overcome what he sees as a size disadvantage in the middleweight division.

    “If Chimaev is returning to the coach he had when he was 17, you’re going to see one of the best versions of Chimaev that you’ve seen before,” Sonnen said. “But that’s still Robert effing Whittaker. He will beat your ass. He will keep you on your feet and he will begin to bludgeon you.

    “I’m also not sold on Chimaev’s size. I know some of you are. You’re saying that he’s pulling pretty hard to get down to 185 and 170 is long behind him. I’m getting other information, and I do know that he considered a title fight all the way at 170 (recently),” Sonnen continued. “I’m just not sold on how big he is at 185. I know how big Whittaker is at 185. I supported the concept of Whittaker going up to 205.”

    In his last outing, Chimaev emerged victorious from a 185-pound contest. He was, however, facing a former welterweight champ in Usman who was making his debut in the division.

    With that in mind, plenty of questions still surround his prospects of finding success in the higher weight class. And given the level of competition he’s set to face at UFC 308 this Saturday, it stands to reason that they will be answered soon enough.

  • Chael Sonnen Says Dustin Poirier & Others Flirt With Retirement To Receive Praise

    Chael Sonnen Says Dustin Poirier & Others Flirt With Retirement To Receive Praise

    Dustin Poirier recently confirmed that he will indeed fight in the UFC again despite contemplating retirement after his loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 302. “The Diamond” wants to plan his exit from the sport by going out in front of his home fans in Louisiana.

    MMA retirements never tend to last too long, just look at Donald Cerrone’s recent comments, and this likely isn’t going to change as the sport continues to age.

    During a recent episode of ESPN MMA’s Good Guy / Bad Guy show with Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen, Cormier said that he was never convinced that Poirier would step away. He said that the former interim champions ability to still compete at the highest level meant that he wouldn’t ride off into the sunset just yet, even if he was suggesting that this was more than likely.

    Sonnen followed this point up by referencing something that he would do in his childhood in order to receive words or praise and encouragement from his peers. He said that in art class, which he was hit and miss at, he would parade his best pieces of work around and say how bad they were in order to draw compliments.

    Sonnen believes that fighters do a similar thing in order to hear the kind of appreciation that makes them feel validated.

    “I did this when I was a little kid. Daniel, as I became an adult, I still did little things like that, I just did it fewer and further between and I swear, I do feel that some of these guys just so that we’ll pat them on the head and tell them, ‘No you’re so great’, I swear they’ll say like something bad about themselves to get the rest of us to go, ‘No, hey, you’ve got more.’ I do feel that way sometimes.”

    Sonnen then spoke specifically about Poirier and his decision to make the walk one or two more times.

    “I imagine it is hard to go and physically, Dustin has it. Mentally, Dustin has it but he’s got that little kid in him somewhere that wants us to constantly tell him, ‘Hey Dustin, you still got it.’ Well, I’ll buy in. Dustin, you still got it.”

  • Chael Sonnen Questions Tom Aspinall’s Takedown Ability Against Alex Pereira 

    Chael Sonnen Questions Tom Aspinall’s Takedown Ability Against Alex Pereira 

    Coming out of UFC 307, fans are buzzing about the possibility of a showdown between Light Heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and interim Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. After Pereira secured his third title defense by finishing Khalil Rountree in Round 4 of their UFC 307 headliner, he hinted at his future ambitions.

    While he plans to remain in the 205-pound division for now, Pereira expressed interest in eventually moving up to heavyweight. Fueling speculation, Pereira shared an image of Aspinall watching his fight, sparking intrigue from analysts, including former fighter Chael Sonnen.

    Sonnen is captivated by the potential matchup but remains skeptical about how Aspinall would handle Pereira’s grappling.

    Questions Raised

    “I cannot guarantee you that the younger, bigger guy in Tom would win,” Sonnen commented on his YouTube channel. “There’s something special about Alex, and I can’t quite put my finger on it. But I don’t know that Tom has the skills to just go out and take him down, so we might have to take that off the board.”

    Sonnen elaborated on the challenges Aspinall might face: “I think Alex would have a really hard time getting up because of the size, but to get him there, Tom’s probably going to want to trade. He might have a little bit of ego, like everybody else, thinking, ‘Let me show you,’ and it might work out for him. But it could also be a very dangerous proposition.”

    For now, Aspinall’s immediate focus is on the heavyweight division. He’s awaiting a fight against the winner of the upcoming heavyweight title bout between champion Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, which headlines UFC 309.

  • Chael Sonnen: Kayla Harrison Not Next In Line For UFC Title Shot Based On ‘Merit’ 

    Chael Sonnen: Kayla Harrison Not Next In Line For UFC Title Shot Based On ‘Merit’ 

    If the UFC was to favor a meritocratic route to decide the first challenger to Julianna Peña, former fighter Chael Sonnen believes Raquel Pennington would be getting an immediate rematch.

    Having not competed since being unseated by Amanda Nunes back in July 2022, Peña returned to the bantamweight throne at this past weekend’s UFC 307 pay-per-view in Salt Lake City.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen” fell on the right side of a widely debated split decision verdict in Utah, bringing a short reign for Pennington to an end in the co-main event.

    Some were pointing to the recent numbered card as a tournament for the 135-pound division, with top contenders Kayla Harrison and Ketlen Vieira meeting earlier in the night.

    The two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL champion emerged victorious from that clash on the scorecards, seemingly booking a first UFC title shot.

    Sonnen, however, thinks the conversation isn’t quite so clear-cut…

    Sonnen Puts Pennington Above Harrison In Meritocratic Title Shot Queue

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen reacted to the events that unfolded in regard to the bantamweight championship conversation at UFC 307.

    While Sonnen acknowledged that Harrison is likely to compete for the gold in her third walk to the Octagon, he suggested that wouldn’t be the case if the decision was based on “merit.”

    “When we’re having the discussion of what’s next, I think it would be responsible for us all — because if we’re just coming from a competitive nature or looking at the rankings, something like that, you lose, you don’t get Kayla. You get Raquel,” Sonnen said. “If you’re gonna just pay attention to merit and who’s done what, you don’t get Kayla vs. Peña next, you get Raquel in a rematch.

    “From the world of promotion, there is nothing on Peña vs. Pennington in a rematch. But guys, there was nothing on it three days ago when we saw it,” Sonnen continued. “We’re not in a vastly different situation. If we’re just going to go off of merit, Pennington must be considered. That’s what I’m offering for you. Pennington should be the champion of the world right now.”

    Regardless, Harrison is expecting to receive her opportunity next time out, having started life on MMA’s biggest stage with consecutive wins over top-five opposition at 135 pounds.

  • Chael Sonnen: Khalil Rountree Won’t ‘Wilt’ To ‘Mike Tyson-esque Fear Factor’ Alex Pereira Has

    Chael Sonnen: Khalil Rountree Won’t ‘Wilt’ To ‘Mike Tyson-esque Fear Factor’ Alex Pereira Has

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen doesn’t think Khalil Rountree will be buying into the reputation that precedes Alex Pereira whenever he enters the Octagon.

    Rountree is days away from the biggest fight of his career to date, as he gears up to headline a pay-per-view and compete with gold on the line for the very first time at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    If “The War Horse” is to continue his winning form all the way to the light heavyweight throne, he’ll have to unseat Pereira. That’s a task that former champions Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka have both failed to achieve in 2024.

    Destructive performances against “Sweet Dreams” and “BJP” have only enhanced Pereira’s status as one of the promotion’s most feared knockout artists.

    But when it comes to how opponents handle such a reputation, Sonnen doesn’t expect Rountree to be one who “wilts” come fight night…

    Sonnen: Rountree A ‘Real Problem’ For Pereira

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Sonnen reiterated his belief that an upset could be brewing in Salt Lake City.

    In part, that’s down to the mindset of Rountree. According to “The American Gangster,” the challenger won’t crumble to the “fear factor” Pereira has developed in the way that others in the division would.

    “I’m telling you, Daniel, every upset has a couple of commonalities. This fight, you’ve got to keep your eyes on it,” Sonnen said. “Number one battle Khalil’s got is to show up and fight. Pereira’s gonna get to a point where guys don’t do that.

    “Pereira is entering that Mike Tyson-esque fear factor, where guys are going to wilt in the back. I just don’t believe that’s Khalil,” Sonnen continued. “I think Khalil’s got one more good one in him. I think he can overcome this, and I think he is a real problem for Pereira.”

    Rountree’s history of violent knockouts may also have created a “fear factor” behind his own striking game. And that might especially be the case for kickboxing standouts given “The War Horse’s” habit of stalling their charges inside the cage.

    It remains to be seen whether history will repeat itself in that regard this Saturday.

  • Renato Moicano Placed In Same Conversation As McGregor, Adesanya, & O’Malley: ‘He’s Doing That Good Of A Job…’

    Renato Moicano Placed In Same Conversation As McGregor, Adesanya, & O’Malley: ‘He’s Doing That Good Of A Job…’

    At 35-years old, Renato Moicano is on the best run of his career and really seems to have hit his stride in the lightweight division.

    The Brazilian has been a member of the UFC roster since 2014 and has stepped foot inside the Octagon 17 times, but it’s really in the last couple years that he has emerged as a major player.

    His latest appearance this past weekend saw him compete in his first main event where he delivered his most impressive display to date, stopping Benoît Saint-Denis in Paris before the third round could get underway.

    As he looks to secure a huge fight next time out, Moicano’s stock is only continuing to climb but the question is how much further can it go?

    Chael Sonnen Says Renato Moicano Is Capturing The Attention Of The Fans Like A Superstar Does

    Moicano’s profile has also increased because alongside this current run of form, his personality has really started to come across on the mic.

    Whether it’s in post-fight interviews or his YouTube content, the “Money” Moicano persona is that larger-than-life personality that is going to turn heads.

    Of course, none of that matters if you aren’t backing it up inside the cage and he’s covering that base very effectively.

    During a recent episode of the Good Guy / Bad Guy show on ESPN MMA, Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen reviewed all the action from Paris.

    Sonnen, who was extremely impressed by Moicano and knows a thing or two about getting over on the mic, said that the Brazilian is capturing that star quality which is a rare occurrence in MMA.

    “Moicano is just covering all aspects of this sport. You generally can only monetize one thing. Your only commodity that you offer the sport is your performance but there is other opportunities if you can find them and that’s where Moicano, “Suga” Sean, Izzy Adesanya, for example, these guys have found another way. Conor McGregor. That’s a very elite company and to put Moicano’s name in the same conversation as Izzy and Conor and Sean, Daniel, I’m not out of bounds here, he’s doing that good of a job.”

    Read also: Renato Moicano Plans To Prove He’s The Best UFC Lightweight: ‘Even If Khabib Comes Back…’ 

  • Chael Sonnen Explains Why Upset Could Be ‘Brewing’ In Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree At UFC 307

    Chael Sonnen Explains Why Upset Could Be ‘Brewing’ In Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree At UFC 307

    According to Chael Sonnen, all boxes needed for a major upset are being ticked ahead of the UFC 307 main event.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back in Utah this week to stage its latest pay-per-view from Salt Lake City’s Delta Center. Two championship clashes are set to headline, with light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira closing the show.

    Having defended his gold successfully against both Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka thus far this year, “Poatan’s” reign will next meet the threat of a surprise challenger in the #8-ranked Khalil Rountree.

    Many questioned the booking, suggesting the UFC avoided giving Magomed Ankalaev a deserved shot in order to keep Pereira’s ball rolling with another striking matchup.

    But for Sonnen, that line of thinking is among many reasons why he thinks an upset is “brewing” at UFC 307…

    Sonnen: Pereira vs. Rountree Has All The Makings Of An Upset

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Sonnen looked ahead to the upcoming PPV main event in Utah.

    While Pereira will enter as a heavy favorite given his winning form in 2024 to date, “The American Gangster” suggested that some differences in the narratives leading up to his latest defense could present a major threat to his reign.

    “This fight card has the potential to be the one. You wanna know why, Daniel? It is brewing for an upset,” Sonnen said. “I’m not giving you a prediction, but I’m telling you now, everything that could be wrong for Pereira in terms of the commonalities that everyone that’s ever been upset has faced — finding yourself in a match that’s harder than the audience knows, finding yourself in a match that’s more dangerous than you’re aware, finding yourself in a match where this guy’s gonna play your game.

    “I’m not arguing that Khalil is cleaner or more talented of a kickboxer than Pereira,” Sonnen continued. “But I will argue for you, Pereira can hit you one time and put you down, Khalil only has to hit him one time and Khalil will put him down.”

    Rountree will be hoping that Sonnen is correct and those apparent pre-fight factors pave the way for his shock crowning in Salt Lake City this weekend.

  • Chael Sonnen Dismisses ‘Thirsty’ Jorge Masvidal’s UFC Comeback Talk: ‘At The Age Of 40…’

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has his doubts when it comes to Jorge Masvidal entering the Octagon again.

    Masvidal — who failed in his two welterweight title bids opposite Kamaru Usman — called time on his mixed martial arts career at UFC 287 in Miami early last year.

    The event saw “Gamebred” comfortably outpointed by Gilbert Burns, adding to his previous losses to Colby Covington and Usman to mark his fourth straight setback inside the cage.

    After announcing his retirement, the 39-year-old made his expected venture to the ring, where he ran it back with fellow ex-UFC star Nate Diaz at an event this past July.

    But both during the lead-up to that bout — which he lost on the scorecards — and since, Masvidal has repeatedly expressed interest in a UFC comeback. He’s even set his sights on an opponent, calling to settle his unfinished business with Leon Edwards.

    But when it comes to the UFC’s alleged interest in granting the return, Sonnen isn’t buying it…

    Sonnen: Masvidal Too Old For Another UFC Stint

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen discussed Masvidal’s comeback talk and his decision to place Edwards in his sights.

    While “The American Gangster” suggested that the matchup itself makes more sense now than it did at the time of Masvidal’s retirement, he ultimately can’t envision the UFC being interested in the soon-to-be 40-year-old extending his Octagon career.

    “The last time I checked on Masvidal, he was 39,” Sonnen said. “Masvidal has looked very thirsty as of late. … I don’t care how thirsty a guy is or what he looks like in that regard, if he’s calling out guys like Leon, that guy is a badass, and that is what Jorge Masvidal is. Now that fight wouldn’t make a lot of sense. That fight isn’t taking it anywhere. It’s not taking it to a title fight. For those reasons, the fight makes more sense. That’s the whole reason we couldn’t do it before; one was a champion but the other wasn’t a top contender.

    “I don’t predict for you that they’re going to make that fight. In fact, quite the opposite. I don’t predict for you anybody at the age of 40 is going to get signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, including if it’s a re-signing,” Sonnen continued. “That’s what I think, but there’s not an actual rule that says otherwise.”

    Regardless of Sonnen’s view, Masvidal is evidently confident of making the walk again down the line.

    By the looks of things, he’s been hard at work at the American Top Team facility in Coconut Creek, Florida, training with the likes of former Bellator champion and current free agent Yaroslav Amosov.

  • ‘No Guarantees’ – UFC HOFer Worries Diego Lopes Will Surpass Alexander Volkanovski In Featherweight Title Shot Race

    ‘No Guarantees’ – UFC HOFer Worries Diego Lopes Will Surpass Alexander Volkanovski In Featherweight Title Shot Race

    The UFC featherweight division has changed a lot in the last twelve months. Alexander Volkanovski, who looked unbeatable in the weight class, lost via knockout to a rising undefeated prospect Ilia Topuria in February 2024.

    Max Holloway, after clearing out most of the top contenders in the division, moved up to lightweight and knocked out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. While the former champion has been resting and hoping to fight for the title upon his return, Diego Lopes has become an undeniable contender as well, following his dominant win over Brian Ortega.

    With Lopes eyeing a fight in December, UFC legend Chael Sonnen is concerned about its impact on Volkanovski’s title shot…

    Chael Sonnen Shares The Implications Of Diego Lopes Calling Out Alexander Volkanovski

    Sonnen recently discussed the current state of the UFC featherweight division on his YouTube channel. He looked back at how quickly “The Great” went from being P4P No. 1 to waiting for a title shot in a division he reigned over for five years.

    Things seemed straightforward with Holloway fighting Topuria, as Volkanovski would be next while getting the much-needed rest after two straight KO losses. However, Sonnen claims that Lopes agreeing to be the backup for Topuria vs. Holloway at UFC 308 could be a problem for the former kingpin.

    “The American Gangster” remembered that backup fighters for UFC title fights have often ended up getting the title shot next. Although Volkanovski’s legacy cannot be questioned, Sonnen reminded viewers that there are no guarantees in the fight business.

    “Diego Lopes is ready to fight right now, and to back that up, will fly to a different continent and sit in the front row should he need to which is the exact process that Volkanovski did in the exact arena to get his opportunity against Islam. I don’t know how this is going to play out and I don’t have a horse in the race. Diego Lopes has done nothing, I’ve been as impressed as you guys are. Volkanovski, one of the all-time greats, one of my absolute favorite fighters. I don’t have a horse in this race, but make no mistake, there is a race.”

    The former UFC title challenger also pointed out that Lopes is targeting a fight with “The Great” if he doesn’t step in for anyone in November. Yet again, it would be hard for Volkanovski to decline this fight and then ask for a title shot over Lopes.

    “Whether Diego Lopes meant to do this cause secretly, he’s strategically very good at this or Volkanovski doesn’t know what’s happening. He’s going to sit one out because he thinks he has a guarantee. There are no guarantees. There’s one bout agreement, it goes to one guy. There is officially a call out by Lopes, Volkanovski, the ball is yours.”

    All in all, Sonnen worries that Volkanovski’s path to reclaiming the UFC featherweight title is no longer uncomplicated.

  • UFC Veteran Expects ‘Great Champion’ Sean O’Malley To Get Immediate Title Rematch Like Israel Adesanya After Loss

    UFC Veteran Expects ‘Great Champion’ Sean O’Malley To Get Immediate Title Rematch Like Israel Adesanya After Loss

    At the culmination of UFC 306, the consensus was that Merab Dvalishvili had dominated Sean O’Malley to win the bantamweight title. However, the former champion has tried to flip the narrative by claiming he won three rounds and the fight.

    As per O’Malley, he got the better of Dvalishvili in rounds one, three, and five. An immediate rematch seems to be off the table, though. “Suga” requires hip surgery which will keep him out of action for almost a year. In the meantime, “The Machine” can take on contenders such as Umar Nurmagomedov or Deiveson Figueiredo.

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen is not a huge fan of the UFC’s reaction to O’Malley losing the title. He believes that the former champ deserves an immediate rematch upon his return and here’s why…

    Chael Sonnen Justifies Sean O’Malley Getting Immediate Title Rematch Because He Could ‘ Move The Needle’ Like Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey & Israel Adesanya

    He might be in the minority here, but Sonnen strongly opposed the UFC’s decision to not consider giving O’Malley an immediate rematch on his YouTube channel recently. He backed the claim by calling “Suga” one of the biggest draws in the promotion currently and remembering that he’s headlined events with massive gates (UFC 299 and UFC 306).

    “The American Gangster” then compared O’Malley to Israel Adesanya. He stated that the latter chose his opponents strategically and compensated for it by promoting himself brilliantly. Despite being a good promoter, O’Malley never got this trade-off according to Sonnen. He was bringing in fans, but at the same time, was fighting everyone that the UFC put in front of him.

    “The very first option is the champion that drops the belt gets a rematch for his belt. It was a respect that was shown to every single great champion. And by great champion, I’m talking about champions that could also move the needle. All of them were offered rematches. From Conor on down. More recently, Israel Adesanya. Right into it, I’m sharing with you, all the greats except Sean.”

    Sonnen looked back at O’Malley’s UFC run which included a major bump in competition as Petr Yan. He then fought Sterling to grab the title and defended it against Marlon Vera. Even if he had beaten Dvalishvili, the next contender was already ready for him as Nurmagomedov or Figueiredo.

    All the history, combined with the fact that rounds one, three, and five could’ve potentially gone to O’Malley, is enough for him to get an immediate rematch according to the UFC veteran.

    “Motivation could largely be based upon opportunities. Of which I didn’t see any add, I only saw him taken away. I’m just sharing, that is what I saw. But now you’ve got Merab, you’ve got Nurmagomedov, and you got Figueiredo, and they can’t seem to quite figure it out. Well, there’s also a final option that should’ve come in front of all of them which is if there’s controversy, we look at a rematch. There’s controversy, go see rounds 1, 3, and 5. Watch that without commentating. Come back and tell me you don’t see controversy.”

    O’Malley will be out of action because of injury so it’s safe to assume that at least one UFC bantamweight title fight will happen before his return. With contrasting opinions surrounding his loss, it’ll be interesting to see who “Suga” returns against, though.

  • Chael Sonnen ‘Bothered’ By Valentina Shevchenko’s Octagon Interview At UFC 306

    According to former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen, Valentina Shevchenko left a key topic out of her Octagon interview inside the Sphere.

    Shevchenko was among the biggest winners to emerge from this past weekend’s pay-per-view event in Las Vegas, where she regained the women’s flyweight crown to start her second reign in the division.

    To do so, “Bullet” got the better of Alexa Grasso at the third time of trying, upsetting the pro-Mexico crowd at the promotion’s second annual celebration of the nation’s independence day with a dominant grappling performance across five rounds.

    Many were quick to express their disappointment with the lack of action in the Noche UFC co-headliner, but one former fighter-turned-analyst was left frustrated for a different reason…

    Sonnen Criticizes Shevchenko For Omitting Fiorot From Post-Fight Interview

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Sonnen outlined one aspect of the latest numbered card that he wasn’t the biggest fan of.

    “The American Gangster” pointed to Shevchenko’s post-fight interview, questioning why she chose to focus on an abundance of thank yous instead of addressing the expected first challenger to her second divisional rule.

    “Can I tell you what one of my least favorite parts (of UFC 306) was? It’s very simple,” Sonnen said. “There was an alternate that flew in and weighed in in case anything happened in the Grasso/Shevchenko fight, (Manon) Fiorot. … At a minimum, it would have been nice if Valentina mentioned her.

    “I feel like it’s clear that Fiorot is next. She was almost that night. And after the fight, Valentina went in a different direction. She wanted to thank Hunter Campbell and Dana White as opposed to call out an opponent,” Sonnen continued. “I felt for Fiorot. To come over there, get licensed, go through all the medicals, go through the training camp, the weight cut, and there’s no opportunity, which means there’s not a very big check to split up with your team. At a minimum, you could have had a callout. … On a human level, to a degree, it bothered me.”

    Fiorot successfully made weight last Friday as the backup fighter for the co-main event of the Sphere-held event. Her services were ultimately not required on fight night, and her title shot is instead expected to come off the back of a full preparation down the line.

  • ‘Completely Insincere’ – UFC Legend Laughs Off Jon Jones Claiming Stipe Miocic Fight As His Last

    ‘Completely Insincere’ – UFC Legend Laughs Off Jon Jones Claiming Stipe Miocic Fight As His Last

    Jon Jones, while talking to the media at UFC 306, hinted at retiring following his UFC 309 headliner against Stipe Miocic. The former UFC light heavyweight champion debuted for the promotion in 2011 and has amassed the most title fight wins (12) so far, naturally making his retirement a big deal among fans.

    After being the most dominant UFC light heavyweight ever, Jones moved up to heavyweight. In March 2023, he beat Ciryl Gane in his heavyweight debut to capture the division’s undisputed championship. However, he has yet to defend the title and despite Tom Aspinall finishing all top contenders, former champ Miocic is getting the title shot.

    Although Jones has mentioned retirement several times at this point, Chael Sonnen simply doesn’t buy it…

    Chael Sonnen Lists Why Jon Jones Isn’t Serious About Retiring After Stipe Miocic Fight

    Sonnen opened up on the recently confirmed matchup between Jones and Miocic for the UFC heavyweight championship on his YouTube channel. He acknowledged that MMA fans are now more excited to see “Bones” being tested by Aspinall who even defended his interim UFC heavyweight belt against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.

    “The American Gangster” believes that Jones’ retirement is not the UFC legend’s idea at all. Somebody from the media or the internet randomly questioned his retirement and since then, he’s agreed to it a couple of times.

    In Sonnen’s view, Jones teasing retirement after fighting Miocic is a clever yet effective marketing idea. Over the years, the light heavyweight GOAT has amassed millions of fans who would tune in to watch him fight for potentially the last time without a second thought.

    “I’m watching this. Oh, Jon has grabbed on to that retirement idea. He did not mean it, it was completely insincere, it wasn’t even his idea. Somebody else said it, he heard it, thought it might be good to go with. And a couple of different reasons guys that are not going to retire say that they’re going to retire. A couple. One could be, he heard somebody else say it thought it might be good marketing. He never comes out and does anything to try for marketing and he went for it. Another one is just the same reason you did things like that when you were a child. So that somebody else would tell, oh no, hey, whoa, we want you, you’re great.”

    Sonnen, Jones’ former rival, is optimistic that we’ll see him in the Octagon against Aspinall before he retires. He stated that “Bones” adding “most likely” to his latest statement about retirement gave it all away. The undisputed heavyweight champ is either selling his upcoming fight or wanting the UFC to stop him from retiring through obvious incentives.

  • ‘He Wasn’t Talking To Merab’ – Chael Sonnen Defends Sean O’Malley’s Coach Amid UFC 306 Excessive Coaching Controversy

    ‘He Wasn’t Talking To Merab’ – Chael Sonnen Defends Sean O’Malley’s Coach Amid UFC 306 Excessive Coaching Controversy

    Merab Dvalishvili defeated Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 to become the undisputed UFC bantamweight champion. He had to win ten fights in a row to get the title shot and shut down the champ with his pressure and pace throughout the five rounds.

    Although the main event received a mixed response from fans, there were some memorable moments. One of these came right at the beginning of the first when Dvalishvili criticized O’Malley’s coach for distracting him and Herb Dean had to step in.

    While many have called Welch unprofessional for implementing his corner tactics, Chael Sonnen has defended the coach…

    Chael Sonnen Clears ‘Misunderstanding’ Around Tim Welch Calling Out Merab Dvalishvili During Sean O’Malley Fight

    Sonnen, while reacting to the UFC 306 main event on his YouTube channel, revealed his close relationship with Welch as a teammate. Despite the natural bias, he had many arguments to prove that the coach didn’t cross any lines at Riyadh Season Noche UFC.

    For starters, the former title challenger remembered that many moves in MMA and boxing are named after pioneers who discovered or popularized them. So, when a coach yells a fighter’s name, they might be referring to a certain move instead of distracting the opponent.

    Sonnen also talked to Welch on the phone and stood by the latter based on the tone of his statements. “The American Gangster” highlighted that the fight had just begun, and there was no way Welch’s comments were out of frustration or anger.

    “When he said pressure Merab, you’re going to have to go Merab. When Tim said that, he had a very similar tone, he was just speaking, raised his voice a little bit. Wasn’t yelling, wasn’t being demeaning, there was by no means, profanity, and would you like to know, why there were none of those things? Would you like to know why that was the tone? It was right at the beginning of the match. I mean, all hell didn’t even break loose. Nobody’s chips are down, nobody’s frustrated.”

    Sonnen also discussed Welch’s intention when O’Malley fought for the title against Aljamain Sterling. In a viral clip, the coach could be heard screaming Aljo’s name following which he went for a punch which helped “Suga” land the knockout blow. However, both incidents are unrelated as Sterling has confirmed he didn’t listen to Welch.

    “And do you want to know why it was so calm? Because he wasn’t talking to Merab, He wasn’t telling Merab what to do, and that has been a misunderstanding of this entire thing.”

    MMA fans seem to be divided over the matter, for now. Although “Funkmaster” has admitted to not hearing Welch and Dvalishvili shut him down fairly quickly, the fact that Welch took an opponent’s name from the corner in consecutive fights is upsetting for many.

  • Chael Sonnen Brands Noche UFC 306 Fight The ‘Most Under-Promoted’ Of 2024

    Chael Sonnen Brands Noche UFC 306 Fight The ‘Most Under-Promoted’ Of 2024

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen wants to know why more people aren’t being “hyped up” for one important Sphere showdown this weekend.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will stage its second annual celebration of Mexican Independence Day on Saturday, Sept. 14. Rather than the T-Mobile Arena, this year’s edition of Noche UFC will take place within the unique surroundings of the Sphere.

    Tasked with topping the lineup are two champions in bantamweight kingpin Sean O’Malley and flyweight queen Alexa Grasso. Before “Sugar” defends against Merab Dvalishvili in the main event, the Mexican will complete her trilogy with Valentina Shevchenko.

    The rest of the card isn’t the deepest and has been criticized by some. But the non-title fights on offer does include one blockbuster rearranged collision between featherweight veteran Brian Ortega and the fast-rising Diego Lopes.

    Different predictions are flying for the contest, which comes a few months after their UFC 303 co-headliner fell through on the day of the event due to sickness suffered by “T-City.”

    After that debacle, Sonnen sees the fight as one of the most highly anticipated of the year. But the ex-middleweight and light heavyweight contender doesn’t believe the promotion has done justice to that…

    Sonnen: There Is A ‘Very Bizarre Feel’ Around Ortega vs. Lopes

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen looked ahead to this weekend’s major PPV event in Las Vegas, specifically the most marquee bout on the undercard.

    While Lopes has established himself as one of this year’s leading fan favorites and will face a former two-time title challenger and longtime contender in Ortega, Sonnen doesn’t think the bout is being promoted nearly enough.

    That has baffled “The American Gangster,” who went as far as to describe the fight as one of the most “sought-after” of 2024 thus far.

    “Brian Ortega, Diego Lopes — this thing is so wildly interesting,” Sonnen said. “Talk about a backstory, by the way. You know how helpful that is? … When you promised the world a fight and then all of a sudden you take it away. But it’s not being promoted, guys. Why is that? I’m just asking a question, making an observation. Why is it not being promoted?

    “This is one of the most sought-after fights in a period of time. Can I say all of 2024? Short-term memory with a little bit of exaggeration, yeah, it’s one of them. Absolutely it is,” Sonnen continued. “There is a very bizarre feel around this contest. There is a bizarre feel because nobody’s covering the contest! people are not talking about it. People are not getting you hyped up about it. That’s very peculiar. … This is one of the great fights of 2024. This is the most under-promoted fight of 2024.”

    While it may not be getting spoken about to the extent it should be in the build-up, both Ortega and Lopes will look to ensure that the leading headlines surround their winning performance on Sunday and the days that follow Noche UFC 306.

  • Chael Sonnen Remembers Poor Experience Watching Iconic WWE Fight To Support Dana White

    Chael Sonnen Remembers Poor Experience Watching Iconic WWE Fight To Support Dana White

    The UFC has been around for over three decades and the organization has held stadium shows only four times to date. These events took place in Canada, Australia, Sweden, and Brazil.

    While tons of fans in the United States and the United Kingdom look forward to attending a UFC event in a stadium, Dana White remains adamant about using arenas. He believes that the viewing experience is hindered in a stadium, but many argue that’s not the case, because most of the audience watches the event on a screen in an arena too.

    Here’s what Chael Sonnen thinks about the UFC using stadiums over arenas for events…

    Chael Sonnen Reveals Several Problems With Stadiums While Looking Back At Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle

    Sonnen discussed whether stadiums are the right venue for combat sports events on his YouTube channel recently. He was reacting to White’s latest comments about stadiums ruining the viewing experience for fans.

    “The American Gangster” brought up the time he spent $70 in 2003 to watch Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle. It is one of the most memorable matches in WWE history because Lesnar landed on his face while attempting a Shooting Star Press on Angle who was a bit too far away.

    “Brock hits this flip off the top rope, breaks this – I mean it’s this terrible thing, we had no idea. We’re asking this, so are other people with us. What, what, what is happening? And we weren’t towards the roof by the way. Like, if you looked at for the very worst seat in the house, if you were to turn around and look for it, you wouldn’t even be able to recognize the person. They were that far away, it’s just the ring was so much even further away and this is because it was in a stadium.”

    Despite being in the venue when this happened, Sonnen recalls being confused alongside tons of viewers. This was because he could not see the screens properly and the ring was very far to understand what was going on. The UFC veteran highlighted that he didn’t have cheap tickets and wasn’t sitting in the seats furthest from the ring.

    Sonnen then brought up that most stadiums in the US don’t have a roof. While other sports like soccer can continue in rain and relatively bad weather, the same isn’t true for MMA. As a viewer himself, the former UFC title challenger claims that the bigger the venue, the worse is the live viewing experience.

    “I would feel that the bigger venues you go to, the worse the experience gets. I know the further you’re going to park away, I know the longer you’re going to wait in line. I know to get a hot dog is going to take you that much more time,”

    While understanding why fighters would want to perform in sold-out stadiums, Sonnen agrees with White that the UFC should stick to arenas and refrain from stadium shows. On the flip side, many fans would still argue that most of the problems he’s mentioned exist in arenas as well, and stadiums can help many more people watch the event together.

  • Chael Sonnen Outlines What He Wants To See Next For Alexander Volkanovski: ‘Unless You Want To Be A Gatekeeper…’ 

    Chael Sonnen Outlines What He Wants To See Next For Alexander Volkanovski: ‘Unless You Want To Be A Gatekeeper…’ 

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen believes lightweight is a must if Alexander Volkanovski wants to continue fighting at the highest level.

    It’s uncertain what the future holds for Volkanovski, who has lost three of four fights since the start of 2023. While the first came in narrow fashion against Islam Makhachev, he’s since suffered brutal knockouts at the hands of the Dagestani lightweight king and Ilia Topuria.

    The Australian hasn’t been in action since being unseated from the featherweight throne by Topuria this past February, but it appears “Alexander the Great” is ready to bring his layoff to a close.

    The questions is: featherweight or lightweight?

    While Volkanovski has set his sights on regaining the strap at 145 pounds, he’s also pondered taking a fun matchup at 155 pounds while “El Matador” and Max Holloway handle business at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi next month.

    The Aussie’s most recent comments saw him express a willingness to wait for a showdown with the winner of the October 26 main event. Sonnen, however, thinks remaining at featherweight and insisting on a title bout could prove unwise…

    Sonnen Advises Volkanovski To Fight Oliveira, Avoid Another Title Fight Next

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen pondered the position that Volkanovski currently finds himself in.

    “The American Gangster” acknowledged talk of the Aussie having a third attempt at entering the 155-pound winner’s circle against Charles Oliveira, advising him to push for that over potential “gatekeeper” status in the featherweight division should he lose another title fight.

    “Volk still wants to come back. Where do we want to put him?” Sonnen asked. “If he came in and said, ‘I’m a title shot guy, that’s it,’ I believe they would say, ‘Okay.’ … But he doesn’t want to fight anyone specific…he just wants the title back. That is a different motivation. I won’t question it. I’m speaking for me, as a fan; I would rather a match, a specific match.

    “You wanna know what I want for Volk? … I want him at ’55. And I don’t want to talk about titles right now. I want to see an awesome match. I want to see Volk and Charles Oliveira at 155 pounds,” Sonnen continued. “I also think outcome-wise, I think you land in a higher spot whether you beat Charles or you don’t beat Charles. You go into a championship (fight) and you get beat, that will never return. That hope and dream is gone forever, forever. … It’s to the point where unless you want to be a gatekeeper of some regard, here are your walking papers. It would be that severe in a title fight. That would not be the case at 155 versus Charles.”

    Whether or not Volkanovski heeds Sonnen’s advice remains to be seen.

    But regardless, it’s clear that the Australian standout hasn’t lost his fire and motivation to have his hand raised inside the Octagon once again.

  • ‘It’s Not Good!’ – Chael Sonnen Predicts Tom Aspinall Could Suffer The Same Fate As Ronda Rousey Against Jon Jones

    ‘It’s Not Good!’ – Chael Sonnen Predicts Tom Aspinall Could Suffer The Same Fate As Ronda Rousey Against Jon Jones

    Although Jon Jones will most likely be booked to fight Stipe Miocic next, his rivalry with Tom Aspinall is also heating up on the sidelines. The interim UFC heavyweight champion is eager to unify the belts, requiring him to face the winner of Jones vs. Miocic.

    Aspinall has bagged 15 wins since turning pro in MMA, and all of them have been stoppages via KO or submission. On top of that, he’s finished all but one fight in the UFC in the first round. This explains why fans consider him to be Jones’ real test instead of Miocic, who hasn’t fought since losing to Francis Ngannou in 2021.

    Aspinall has looked unstoppable till now, but Chael Sonnen has concerns about him not being tested enough in the Octagon yet…

    Chael Sonnen Highlights Striking Similarities In Early UFC Careers Of Tom Aspinall And Ronda Rousey

    Sonnen discussed the rivalry between Aspinall and Jones on his YouTube channel recently. He believes that the interim champ bringing up the undisputed kingpin’s past PED usage was bound to rub the latter the wrong way.

    “The American Gangster” then stated that a fight between “Bones” and Aspinall, if it happens, will likely be scheduled for UFC International Fight Week in 2025. It might be hard for Aspinall to get an opponent during this time as the interim champ, and his inactivity would work in favor of the former UFC light heavyweight champion.

    Sonnen also revealed the downside of Aspinall firing through the competition with such ease so far. His rise to the top resembles Ronda Rousey, who had 11 first-round finishes in her pro career, including five in the UFC.

    “I’m not sure you understand that. That is not helpful, that is not a good thing. It looks good and it sounds good, it’s not good! When you find yourself in a fight harder than you’re used to, it’s a problem for everybody. It is the number one reason that Ronda lost to Holly Holm. It was not the right leg kick. It was because the six other girls that Ronda had been in there with checked out collectively in a shorter time than Holly had made it. That was the problem. It’s a problem for everyone. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

    According to the former UFC middleweight title contender, Rousey lost to Holly Holm because she wasn’t used to opponents surviving her initial onslaught. As soon as someone put her to the test, she was overwhelmed and it all came crashing down.

    Sonnen fears that Aspinall might have similar problems if he takes on an opponent as durable and experienced as Jones. For now, though, there is no way to confirm whether we’ll ever see the two meet in the Octagon.

  • ‘This Is Really Unfair!’ – Chael Sonnen Sticks Up For Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic As Dana White Defends Heavyweight Matchup

    ‘This Is Really Unfair!’ – Chael Sonnen Sticks Up For Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic As Dana White Defends Heavyweight Matchup

    MMA fans worldwide are currently divided over Jon Jones defending the UFC heavyweight championship against Stipe Miocic next. This is primarily because Jones hasn’t fought since March 2023 and in the meantime, Tom Aspinall has solidified his claim on the undisputed title by winning and defending the interim heavyweight belt.

    To add fuel to the fire, Dana White has missed no opportunity to call Jones the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world lately. He regularly shares this opinion on social media and even argued with the media for over 10 minutes about it recently.

    Chael Sonnen has sided with White on the matter and has explained why fans shouldn’t complain about the imminent Jones vs. Miocic matchup…

    Chael Sonnen Explains Why Dana White Won’t Cancel Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic For UFC Heavyweight Title

    Sonnen reacted to White defending Jones vs. Miocic in a DWCS press conference on his official YouTube channel recently. The former UFC title contender reminded viewers that this match was booked before Aspinall knocked out Sergei Pavlovich in less than 90 seconds.

    Sonnen remembered when “Bones” agreed to fight Miocic soon after his flawless win over Ciryl Gane. He pointed out that fans didn’t necessarily oppose the booking. However, things turned complex when the champ had to pull out due to a shoulder injury. He’s been out of action for over 18 months now, and the UFC still not confirming a date for his return is a bone of contention among many.

    “This is really unfair, what you’re doing to Jon Jones. This is really unfair, what you’re doing to Stipe. It’s unfair that Dana White had to answer this question. So, let me take your short-term memories, down memory lane.”

    Aspinall has been constantly calling out Jones as well since defending the interim UFC heavyweight championship against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304. Yet again, he emerged victorious via knockout in the first and believes that he should now get the chance to unify the belts once and for all.

    As per “The American Gangster”, White is correct in not disrespecting Miocic by taking away arguably his final shot at the title. The former UFC heavyweight champ hasn’t lost a fight or sustained an injury, due to which Sonnen believes that he still deserves to fight Jones.

    “It’s the same fight with the same guys. They haven’t done anything different. Stipe has not slowed down. Stipe has not lost. He hasn’t done anything in front of you that’s any different. And I mean, I will just tell you, like, in this sport, you’re not wrong. Fans going to do what fans want. I understand it, but I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything quite to this degree in an attempt to get Aspinall in there with Jon.”

    “It turned nasty against Stipe. That’s the part that’s incorrect. As soon as Stipe falls on his face. As soon as he slips on a banana peal. Go ahead and go after him, that’s fair game, that’s this sport. That hasn’t happened. Stipe has not done that. Stipe has not done anything like that. As a matter of fact, he got a little bit longer to train and this is a consummate professional. He would’ve used that time very wisely.

    Despite the backlash, it is safe to assume that the UFC will book Jones vs. Miocic sometime in 2024. It is also worth noting that Aspinall is guaranteed to be the backup fighter for this title match.

  • Chael Sonnen Feels Kamaru Usman Can Hijack Title Shot: UFC Not Ready For Muhammad vs Rakhmonov Presser

    Chael Sonnen Feels Kamaru Usman Can Hijack Title Shot: UFC Not Ready For Muhammad vs Rakhmonov Presser

    When Belal Muhammad defeated Leon Edwards to become the welterweight champion at UFC 304, there was a common consensus for who his first challenger would be.

    At 18-0 with all finishes, Shavkat Rakhmonov currently holds the #3-ranking at 170-pounds and is a huge threat to anyone in the division.

    There is, however, another contender that is still ranked above Rakhmonov despite the fact that he has lost his last three fights.

    Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman was beaten by Edwards in consecutive fights before taking a short notice opportunity against Khamzat Chimaev up at middleweight.

    Though he may be lacking some momentum right now, Usman was a dominant champion whose name still carries a lot of weight, which could be enough to see him jump back into the title picture.

    Chael Sonnen Says Kamaru Usman Needs To Push For Welterweight Title Shot Because He’s So Close

    In a recent YouTube video, Chael Sonnen was very keen to push just how close Usman is to the title shot for a number of reasons.

    He said that he needed to come out and say this after “The Nigerian Nightmare” had called out Rakhmonov when in reality, he should be trying to get the title shot instead because it’s possible.

    Sonnen made reference to how despite both men having fanbases away from the usual US audience of the UFC, the promotion might have some doubts about having Muhammad and Rakhmonov headline an event – which Usman can use to better his case.

    With Usman being a much more familiar face, he could jump in front of Rakhmonov thanks to his name and pedigree even if his fellow contender is much more deserving based on current form.

    “He is right there about to get Belal, I mean he is right there. There is only one guy even in discussion that might nudge him out and that is Rakhmonov and it’s wildly important that they get this figured out. If Rakhmonov nudges him out, there’s probably not going to be another time that Kamaru’s going to be needed.

    “This is the time, he’s got to beat him. Rakhmonov has got to shine himself up just a little bit more. The UFC, no matter how big it is and no matter what the fan base is, is not ready for a press conference with Muhammad and Rakhmonov and Kamaru Usman has got to push that narrative. I’m only sharing that because he is this close and at one point he didn’t know it.”

    Read also: Former Opponent Reveals He Perfectly Predicted ‘Randy Couture Style’ Welterweight Title Win For Belal Muhammad At UFC 304

  • Chael Sonnen Tells Fans To Hold Their Horses On Seeing Magomed Ankalaev As Top Light Heavyweight Contender: ‘Rakić Is That Damn Good!’

    Chael Sonnen Tells Fans To Hold Their Horses On Seeing Magomed Ankalaev As Top Light Heavyweight Contender: ‘Rakić Is That Damn Good!’

    The UFC’s light heavyweight division has been unpredictable as of late after two big matchups were put together that left some questions.

    Magomed Ankalaev has been pushing to face champion Alex Pereira for a long time now, but in order to get his second shot at the title, he will need to get past Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308.

    Meanwhile, Khalil Rountree will leapfrog both him and the majority of the top 10 to face “Poatan” at UFC 307 in an exciting clash of styles that plenty have suggested is premature.

    Many will be expecting Ankalaev to come through yet another light heavyweight contender and continue to call for his shot, but Chael Sonnen believes some may be getting carried away…

    Sonnen Warns Fans Not To Underestimate Rakić’s Chances Against Ankalaev

    During a recent YouTube video, Sonnen spoke about what appears to be a number one contenders’ clash at 205 pounds that is set for October 26.

    Not only were fans surprised to see Ankalaev not securing his date with the champion, many were puzzled by the decision to book him against Rakić. Whilst he is a top five contender in the division, he’s coming off of a loss in another title eliminator when he was stopped by Jiří Procházka at UFC 300.

    Sonnen stated that although this could be the final hurdle for Ankalaev to overcome, it can’t be overlooked how big of an opportunity this is for his opponent.

    “Ankalaev, clearly the number one contender, at least according to you guys. And you know what? I do have a little bit of a problem with that. I’s not a huge problem but I do have just a little one,” Sonnen said. “Which is Rakić is that damn good. You got to understand, Rakić did not get a world title fight — well neither did Ankalaev, but Rakić did find himself in the next best thing.

    “He’s in a number one contenders’ match. That is quite literally the next best thing that you could get to a title fight and he found himself there coming off of a loss. As a matter of fact, he found himself there coming off of a stoppage loss. As a matter of fact, finding himself in this spot actually moves him in front of the guy that he suffered the loss to in Procházka,” Sonnen continued. “I’m only telling you this because that’s how good Rakić is and a lot of people have forgot.”

  • Chael Sonnen Feels Khalil Rountree Fight Will Fast Track Alex Pereira’s Heavyweight Move: ‘The Best Way, Get Him Beat!’

    Chael Sonnen Feels Khalil Rountree Fight Will Fast Track Alex Pereira’s Heavyweight Move: ‘The Best Way, Get Him Beat!’

    Chael Sonnen recently suggested that Alex Pereira’s upcoming clash with Khalil Rountree could be the ideal launchpad for the Brazilian’s much-anticipated leap into the UFC heavyweight division.

    “Poatan” is gearing up to defend his light heavyweight crown for the third time as he faces Rountree in the headline bout at UFC 307, slated for October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    However, numerous fans have voiced their apprehensions about the matchup, pointing to Rountree’s ongoing suspension for the unintentional intake of the banned substance Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Meanwhile, others argue that Magomed Ankalaev, currently on a 12-fight unbeaten streak, would have been a more fitting contender for the 205-pound title.

    As for Pereira, anticipation is swirling around his future, with many wondering what’s next for the striking phenom who has already claimed titles in two weight classes. He has hinted at the possibility of moving up to the heavyweight division, where he could potentially become the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion.

    However, before he can chase that historic milestone, “Poatan” must first conquer the formidable challenge posed by the heavy-hitting Rountree. Sonnen believes that the fight with “The War Horse” could be pivotal in shaping Pereira’s path forward…

    Sonnen Thinks Pereira Will Jump To Heavyweight If Rountree Hands Him A Loss

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen delved into the upcoming title clash between Pereira and Rountree. The former UFC middleweight title contender remarked that “The War Horse” might be the most stylistically challenging opponent Pereira has faced to date.

    “Khalil Rountree is going to roll over Alex Pereira,” Sonnen said. “So all of this talk about Khalil not deserving a [title shot], Khalil should not be in those positions—there’s only one person that needs to believe that, and that is Alex Pereira. It’s a very, very dangerous fight, and why on Earth take the risk? We think that we know, whether we do or not, but we have a consensus as to why not Ankalaev?”

    Sonnen went on to suggest that the quickest and most efficient path for “Poatan” to transition to the heavyweight division would be if he suffers a defeat at the hands of Rountree at UFC 307. Such a loss would relieve him of the obligation to defend his 205-pound title.

    “The best way to get Alex to heavyweight—because we can’t make him a heavyweight tomorrow if he’s got the 205-pound belt—is to remove the 205-pound belt from the equation. We could all agree with that, right? Anyone not fighting for a title can move weight classes right now. So, the best way to get him to heavyweight is not to clean out the division and keep doing more work and saying all the right things on social media. That is a way, but it takes a lot of time and some luck. The best way? Get him beat, get the belt off him, and he’s free to become a heavyweight.”

    Pereira has been an unstoppable force since his commanding entrance into the 205-pound division, starting with a decision victory over Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291. He went on to capture the vacant light heavyweight title in a showdown with Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 and has since successfully defended his crown, notching two defenses within just two months. Most recently, he delivered a stunning second-round knockout against Prochazka in a rematch at UFC 303.

  • Chael Sonnen ‘Surprised’ By Dan Hooker’s Top 5 Ranking After UFC 305 Win: ‘That Should Not Have Happened’

    Chael Sonnen ‘Surprised’ By Dan Hooker’s Top 5 Ranking After UFC 305 Win: ‘That Should Not Have Happened’

    Apparently beating a top five contender doesn’t warrant a place inside the top five…

    That’s according to former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen, who has been reflecting on the events that unfolded at this past weekend’s pay-per-view event at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

    Among the biggest winners to emerge from UFC 305 was Dan Hooker, a lightweight fan favorite who enjoyed a difficult fall from grace during the pandemic. In more recent years, however, “The Hangman” has returned to winning ways in style.

    And after defending his place in the rankings opposite Claudio Puelles in late 2022 before making a statement in victory over the highly regarded Jalin Turner in 2023, Hooker’s first outing of this year saw him leap back into the title conversation.

    The New Zealander came out on the right side of a split decision verdict opposite the highly regarded Mateusz Gamrot. And this week he was rewarded with a rise into the top five, where his defeated opponent previously sat.

    While that didn’t come as a surprise to many, Sonnen was shocked. And he sees it as a mistake on the part of the rankings panel…

    Sonnen Questions Hooker’s High Place In UFC Lightweight Top 15

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen reflected on Hooker’s triumph Down Under this past weekend and commented on talk of him sharing the cage with Charles Oliveira next.

    At one point, “The American Gangster” noted “The Hangman’s” recent surge up the pecking order at 155 pounds, expressing surprise and disagreement with Hooker being granted a place inside the top five.

    “I owe an apology. … It was stated from Conner Burks, ‘Tatted Dan Hooker is undefeated and about to be ranked in the top five.’ I wrote back and said, ‘Well, you’re half right.’ … I have to apologize to Conner,” Sonnen said. “Hooker got ranked in the top five. That should not have happened.

    “I’m surprised that that happened. We don’t know who that rankings committee is, but I think we can comfortably understand that Conner is one of them, they spoke, and that’s how they did it,” Sonnen jokingly added.

    Regardless, Hooker is indeed now a top five contender on MMA’s biggest stage, and he’ll look to ride that momentum all the way into a first title shot down the line.

  • Chael Sonnen: Story Of Conor McGregor’s UFC Return Is Being ‘Mistold’

    Chael Sonnen: Story Of Conor McGregor’s UFC Return Is Being ‘Mistold’

    The road to see Conor McGregor back inside the Octagon has been unlike anything else that the UFC has seen before.

    In recent years where his comeback has been regularly spoken about, there has been blame placed on both McGregor and the UFC’s side.

    Though his professionalism has been called into question during the time since he last fought, “The Notorious” has always been passionate about martial arts and competition despite everything that he has already achieved.

    His 2024 return is seemingly off the table following the recent comments from Dana White that seemed to shut down any chance of the Irishman’s headlining the final numbered event of the year in December.

    Chael Sonnen Says That He Believes Conor McGregor And Thinks He’s Pushing Hard For The Return

    From the outside looking in, it seems that McGregor has tried very hard over the past 12 or so months to book his return after repeatedly stating that he was ready to fight.

    Though the decision to withdraw from the UFC 303 main event against Michael Chandler was his to make, the former UFC champ-champ did seem set on rescheduling the fight for later on in the year.

    Chael Sonnen said that he believes McGregor when it comes to trying to make this fight happen, on a recent episode of Good Guy / Bad Guy on ESPN MMA.

    “The Bad Guy” said that he doesn’t think the impression of what is happening behind the scenes is a true reflection of reality, making the case for why he believes “The Mac” is doing what he can to make this fight a reality.

    “I’m hearing the organization would like him to fight in California in January, I can’t confirm that for you but I would like to say this one thing Daniel, as long winded as I’m being. I think the story of Conor is being a little bit mistold in this way. I believe him. I believe that he wants to fight. I believe that he is going behind the scenes, see he loves to feint power, he loves to let people know it’s all my decision.

    “I believe he has humbled himself to say, ‘I need the organization to sign off on this, I’m willing to go,’ and that’s not quite how the story is being told. The story is being told that Conor is dangling this, I don’t think so and if you remember all the efforts that he went through just to get on the docket on June 29, he’s doing the same things to get on the docket in December. At a minimum, I do believe he is sincere that he still wants to be one of the boys.”

    Read also: Francis Ngannou’s Coach On UFC Deleting His Legacy: ‘It Takes Somebody Of Izzy’s Stature…’

  • Alex Pereira Told Dricus Du Plessis Is The ‘Wrong Guy To Mess With’ After Post-UFC 305 Call-Out

    Alex Pereira Told Dricus Du Plessis Is The ‘Wrong Guy To Mess With’ After Post-UFC 305 Call-Out

    It has taken a long time for Dricus Du Plessis to get the respect that he believes he has always deserved, but his winning streak is becoming undeniable.

    With eight consecutive wins inside the Octagon, he has now beaten three former middleweight champions in his most recent outings.

    Finishing both Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, along with going the distance against Sean Strickland, has shown how “Stillknocks” is very effective despite his style not being the most technically sound.

    A rematch with Strickland makes a lot of sense for his next title defense given how close their first encounter was but there is also the potential for a huge fight against the champion at the weight class above, in the near future.

    Daniel Cormier & Chael Sonnen Agree That Dricus Du Plessis Poses A Threat To Alex Pereira

    In order for Du Plessis to add yet another former middleweight champion to his record, he would need to face the current light heavyweight titleholder, Alex Pereira.

    At least on paper, many will point to how Du Plessis does tend to fight recklessly at points, which makes a clash with “Poatan” so dangerous for him.

    However, after watching what he was able to do against another elite striker in Adesanya this past weekend at UFC 305, Daniel Cormier spoke on the Good Guy / Bad Guy show on ESPN MMA about his intrigue around that potential match-up:

    “DDP already said Chael, ‘It doesn’t have to be at ’85, I’m not giving you no excuse. I’ll come to 205 and fight you.’ After watching him, I don’t know that he don’t do well against Alex because of his wrestling and his ability to strike.”

    Cormier’s co-host Chael Sonnen agreed with him on this point, stating that we’re still learning what Du Plessis is capable of at this stage.

    “Wrong guy to mess with, I mean in all fairness, whatever Alex is seeing in DDP, Alex should know that’s what we all saw in Alex two years ago. We did not understand how great he is.”

    Read also: Sean Strickland’s Coach Expands On Strategy For Dricus Du Plessis Rematch: ‘It’s Gonna Be To The Death!’