Vinny Magalhaes: Chael Sonnen can pull off ‘a moral victory’ at Metamoris

Can Chael Sonnen upset the best grappler in the world?

The former UFC title challenger is set to battle two-time jiu-jitsu world champion and two-time ADCC winner Andre Galvao in the main event of Metamoris 4 on Saturday night in Los Angeles, and most people doubt he can survive against that kind of competition.

Vinny Magalhaes, a longtime training partner of the “American Gangster”, is a believer.

“Chael is physically stronger and heavier, and he has great takedowns. If he manages to keep the match where he wants, he can go the distance and get a draw,” Magalhaes told MMAFighting.com. “It’s not a win for Chael, but it would be a bad result for Andre. He’s one of the bets grapplers in the world, if not the best, and he couldn’t submit Chael.”

“Andre has the obligation to win,” he continued. “Chael only competed once in grappling, I believe at ADCC 2001 or 2003, and that’s it. He has pretty good history in wrestling, but nothing in jiu-jitsu. A draw with a guy like Andre is not a win for Chael, but it’s a loss for Andre.”

Magalhaes, who takes on Keenan Cornelius at Metamoris 4, explains that Sonnen’s chances of going the distance in the 20-minute match will disappear if Galvao manages to take him down.

“If Andre takes him down, that’s a big problem,” he said. “If Andre gets him on his back, everybody knows the result. It’s going to be tough for Andre to get him down, though, and Chael can take him down and control from the top without getting himself in trouble. It would be tough to submit Andre, but I believe Chael can pull off a moral victory.”

Can Chael Sonnen upset the best grappler in the world?

The former UFC title challenger is set to battle two-time jiu-jitsu world champion and two-time ADCC winner Andre Galvao in the main event of Metamoris 4 on Saturday night in Los Angeles, and most people doubt he can survive against that kind of competition.

Vinny Magalhaes, a longtime training partner of the “American Gangster”, is a believer.

“Chael is physically stronger and heavier, and he has great takedowns. If he manages to keep the match where he wants, he can go the distance and get a draw,” Magalhaes told MMAFighting.com. “It’s not a win for Chael, but it would be a bad result for Andre. He’s one of the bets grapplers in the world, if not the best, and he couldn’t submit Chael.”

“Andre has the obligation to win,” he continued. “Chael only competed once in grappling, I believe at ADCC 2001 or 2003, and that’s it. He has pretty good history in wrestling, but nothing in jiu-jitsu. A draw with a guy like Andre is not a win for Chael, but it’s a loss for Andre.”

Magalhaes, who takes on Keenan Cornelius at Metamoris 4, explains that Sonnen’s chances of going the distance in the 20-minute match will disappear if Galvao manages to take him down.

“If Andre takes him down, that’s a big problem,” he said. “If Andre gets him on his back, everybody knows the result. It’s going to be tough for Andre to get him down, though, and Chael can take him down and control from the top without getting himself in trouble. It would be tough to submit Andre, but I believe Chael can pull off a moral victory.”