Chael Sonnen just lately advised that Alex Pereira’s upcoming conflict with Khalil Rountree may very well be the perfect launchpad for the Brazilian’s much-anticipated leap into the UFC heavyweight division.
“Poatan” is gearing as much as defend his mild heavyweight crown for the third time as he faces Rountree within the headline bout at UFC 307, slated for October 5 on the Delta Heart in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah.
Nevertheless, quite a few followers have voiced their apprehensions concerning the matchup, pointing to Rountree’s ongoing suspension for the unintentional consumption of the banned substance Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). In the meantime, others argue that Magomed Ankalaev, at present on a 12-fight unbeaten streak, would have been a extra becoming contender for the 205-pound title.
As for Pereira, anticipation is swirling round his future, with many questioning what’s subsequent for the hanging phenom who has already claimed titles in two weight lessons. He has hinted at the opportunity of transferring as much as the heavyweight division, the place he may doubtlessly turn into the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion.
Nevertheless, earlier than he can chase that historic milestone, “Poatan” should first conquer the formidable problem posed by the heavy-hitting Rountree. Sonnen believes that the struggle with “The Struggle Horse” may very well be pivotal in shaping Pereira’s path ahead…
Sonnen Thinks Pereira Will Bounce To Heavyweight If Rountree Fingers Him A Loss
Throughout a latest video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen delved into the upcoming title conflict between Pereira and Rountree. The previous UFC middleweight title contender remarked that “The Struggle Horse” may be probably the most stylistically difficult opponent Pereira has confronted up to now.
“Khalil Rountree goes to roll over Alex Pereira,” Sonnen mentioned. “So all of this discuss Khalil not deserving a [title shot], Khalil shouldn’t be in these positions—there’s just one particular person that should imagine that, and that’s Alex Pereira. It’s a really, very harmful struggle, and why on Earth take the chance? We predict that we all know, whether or not we do or not, however we’ve got a consensus as to why not Ankalaev?”
Sonnen went on to counsel that the quickest and most effective path for “Poatan” to transition to the heavyweight division could be if he suffers a defeat by the hands of Rountree at UFC 307. Such a loss would relieve him of the duty to defend his 205-pound title.
“The easiest way to get Alex to heavyweight—as a result of we are able to’t make him a heavyweight tomorrow if he’s acquired the 205-pound belt—is to take away the 205-pound belt from the equation. We may all agree with that, proper? Anybody not preventing for a title can transfer weight lessons proper now. So, one of the simplest ways to get him to heavyweight is to not clear out the division and maintain doing extra work and saying all the fitting issues on social media. That may be a approach, but it surely takes plenty of time and a few luck. The easiest way? Get him beat, get the belt off him, and he’s free to turn into a heavyweight.”
Pereira has been an unstoppable drive since his commanding entrance into the 205-pound division, beginning with a choice victory over Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291. He went on to seize the vacant mild heavyweight title in a showdown with Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 and has since efficiently defended his crown, notching two defenses inside simply two months. Most just lately, he delivered a shocking second-round knockout in opposition to Prochazka in a rematch at UFC 303.
