MMA analyst Chael Sonnen strongly criticized the decision to exclude Magomed Ankalaev from the vacant light heavyweight title fight. Sonnen noted that Ankalaev holds a 1-1 record against former champion Alex Pereira and is the only fighter in the top tier who has actually defeated Pereira, yet wasn't even discussed for the title bout. Sonnen questioned why the most entertaining fighter (presumably Anthony Smith or Khalil Rountree), most intriguing fighter (Jamahal Hill), or most accomplished fighter (Ankalaev) weren't selected. He concluded that the current title fight storyline is so weak that people aren't even discussing the absence of the right contenders, stating both participants are wrong choices.
