Chael Sonnen has criticized the decision to exclude Magomed Ankalaev from the vacant light heavyweight title fight. Sonnen noted that Ankalaev has a 1-1 record with Alex Pereira and is the only fighter in this group who has actually defeated Pereira, yet he wasn't even considered for the title bout. Sonnen questioned why the division's most spectacular fighter (Roundtree), most intriguing (Jamal), or most accomplished (Ankalaev) weren't included. He stated the current title fight has such a weak storyline that people aren't even talking about the absence of the right contenders, claiming both participants are wrong choices.
Chael Sonnen has gone public with sharp criticism of the matchmaking behind the upcoming vacant light heavyweight title fight, arguing that the division's most deserving contenders have been left on the outside looking in.
At the center of Sonnen's argument is Magomed Ankalaev, the 34-year-old Russian who sits ranked first in the light heavyweight division and fifth pound-for-pound in the world. Ankalaev carries a 21-2-1 record and has built a reputation as one of the most complete fighters in the 205-pound class, landing 3.65 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy while also mixing in takedowns at a rate of 0.79 per 15 minutes. Sonnen pointed out that Ankalaev holds a 1-1 record against Alex Pereira — making him the only fighter in the current contender pool who has actually handed Pereira a loss.
Pereira, nicknamed Poatan, is the reigning champion vacating the belt after moving up in weight. The 38-year-old Brazilian carries a 13-4 record and has been one of the most dominant finishers in recent light heavyweight history, averaging 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 62 percent — numbers that place him among the most effective volume strikers the division has seen.
Sonnen argued that three fighters in particular deserved serious consideration for the vacant title fight: Ankalaev as the division's most accomplished contender, Ryan Roundtree as its most spectacular, and Khalil Rountree Jr. — referred to as Jamal in his remarks — as its most intriguing. In his view, both fighters ultimately selected for the bout are the wrong choices, and the matchup's weak narrative is being masked by a lack of scrutiny around who was passed over.
Why it matters
- Ankalaev is the No. 1 ranked light heavyweight with a direct win over the departing champion
- His exclusion raises questions about the UFC's contender ranking system and how title shots are awarded
- The criticism adds pressure on the promotion to address the 205-pound division's crowded and unresolved contender picture
