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 Ji?í 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.
He's a scary scary dude
Khalil Rountree Jr. looks to become the light heavyweight champion at #UFC307!
[ Live on @ESPNPlus PPV | Saturday | 10pmET/7pm PT ] pic.twitter.com/wlOyg6I5FJ
— UFC (@ufc) September 30, 2024
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