Sonnen called Pereira’s actions misguided

Sports news » Sonnen called Pereira’s actions misguided

Chael Sonnen expresses his opinion that Alex Pereira erred in accepting a second fight against Magomed Ankalaev.

Sonnen points out that many seem to misremember Pereira`s transition to the light heavyweight division. He clarifies that Pereira`s move up in weight wasn`t a result of dominating the middleweight class, but rather occurred after he lost his championship title. Sonnen emphasizes that after losing the title, Pereira was free to choose his path and wasn`t obligated to remain at middleweight. Therefore, according to Sonnen, Pereira`s decision to fight Ankalaev at light heavyweight wasn`t about proving himself in a new division after a dominant reign at middleweight.

Sonnen acknowledges that the first match between Pereira and Ankalaev was closely contested and exciting. He suggests it would have been acceptable for Pereira to leave it as a single encounter. However, Sonnen cautions that if Pereira agrees to a rematch and suffers another defeat, experiencing two losses to Ankalaev, it could be perceived as shameful.

Jasper Blackthorne

Jasper Blackthorne, 41, calls Manchester home while traveling the world pursuing breaking stories in NHL and golf. With his signature in-depth player interviews and behind-the-scenes reporting, he's built a reputation for uncovering the human side of sports.

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