“Going to walk through Pereira,” Chael Sonnen gives bold take on Khalil Rountree vs. Alex Pereira at UFC 307

Chael Sonnen has a candid opinion on Alex Pereira’s next title defense. The Brazilian faces Khalil Rountree in the UFC 307 pay-per-view (PPV) headliner, in October, at Salt Lake City. Pereira defends his light heavyweight title against for yet another calendar appearance this year.

Many believe that the No. 8 ranking Rountree is undeserving of the title shot. Subsequently, many view Magomed Ankalaev as the more worthy number one LHW title contender. Sonnen, however, sees Khalil Rountree as a poor matchup but a big challenge for Pereira at UFC 307.

First off, let me give you the hot take of the day: Khalil Rountree is going to walk through Pereira, …That is the worst matchup I could think of. This is ‘Smackdown’ invading ‘Raw’…think of who’s going to go fight for a title, we think of other guys who have won a whole bunch of fights on pay-per-view…He’s been fighting on the Fight Nights and at the Apex. He’s still won [five] in a row, he stopped [four] of those sons of a guns, and one of them is a former No. 1 contender.
Chael Sonnen via the ‘Good Guy/Bad Guy’ Show/ Credit: @ESPNMMA on YT

Khalil Rountree, a TUF: Season 23 tournament alum is on a five-fight win streak with four stoppages. He also touts an R3 stoppage of former title challenger Anthony’ Lionheart’ Smith. Before Alex Pereira subbed in, Rountree, 34, was to be the feature co-main against one Jamahal Hill at the top bill. The fighter pulled out of his June 29 bout for testing positive for the banned dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

As opposed to Pereira’s recent spur in superstardom, the Team Syndicate MMA striker also boasts a post-fight bonus streak of three. ‘The War Horse’ might not be the best stylistic skill-to-skill test for the champion out there, but he is not without his merit. Sonnen also thinks the title challenger does his best work against kickboxers when pushed to the brink.

Chael Sonnen does not see the ‘Alex Pereira’ magic working on Khalil Rountree

Alex Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) is already fresh of two title ballot appearances this year. ‘Poatan’ logged his maiden defense against prodigal ex-champ Hill in the UFC 300 milestone main event. Additionally, he starched Jiri Prochazka next at UFC 303. When the Team Teixeira MMA & Fitness champ enters UFC 307 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, he’d once again have more title fights than regular ones.

Chael Sonnen gives his thoughts on Khalil Rountree’s chances (Source: es.agfight.com/YT)

Pereira has jumped to the No. 2 spot on the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings after his back-to-back shock knockouts. Despite being from Brazil, he has been a top bill for non-domestic streamers as well as domestic ones at ESPN platforms (ESPN+, Hulu SVOD, ESPN & ESPN Deportes). Fighters do not get any more enigmatic than the dual-division champ. A factor that consequently has many believing in shamanic boosts.

Chael Sonnen admits Pereira has an aura about him. Like other legendary fighters who have a way of intimidating an opponent before the fight begins. But he thinks Khalil Rountree won’t be the same to all prey like Hill or Prochazka.

Mike Tyson used to make guys quit in the back, Cain Velasquez would have guys wilt in the back. Anderson Silva would make guys wilt in the back as they were so scared of what was going to happen. Pereira is entering that territory…[but] Rountree is the wrong matchup…All those scary punches and kicks that Pereira does, that’s where Rountree does his finest work. 
Chael Sonnen further said; @ESPNMMA on YT

While Sonnen is an instigator of even the most improbable scenarios, he might not be in the wrong. Rountree has upset kickboxing standouts like Gokhan Saki before as well. A plan he touts to have once again. Recently, there’s much talk about UFC saving Pereira’s legacy matching him with strikers. But Sonnen says if that were the case, it was a poor cover-up as Rountree is a different breed.