Controversies and Dana White go hand in hand and 2024 is no different. UFC head honcho has come under the radar of intense criticism and for several variant reasons. One primary issue was scheduling the current Light Heavyweight king, Alex Pereira, to fight the ranked #8 contender, Khalil Rountree Jr., while ignoring the more anticipated contender, Dagestani sensation Magomed Ankalaev. Instead, White and company lined ‘Russian Terror’ up to face Aleksander Rakic at the Abu Dhabi event.

However, as time has passed, fans seem to be accepting White’s fight cards, viewing them as “semifinals,” where the winners will face each other. This has led to speculation that ‘Poatan’ and Ankalaev will meet next. Still, fighter-turned-analyst Chael Sonnen has a different theory regarding that.

Chael Sonnen on Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.’s future

A few days ago, Dana White attempted to calm MMA fans and critics while speaking to veteran reporter Kevin Iole. He boldly claimed, “Listen, Ankalaev is ranked number 2. He goes out and puts on an unbelievable performance, and if Alex Pereira is still the champion, then he’s next.” This may have been enough to appease some fans, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy Chael Sonnen, who recently dismissed White’s intentions in a YouTube video.

‘The American Gangster’ had his fair share of doubts on White’s statement. He claimed, “We’re hearing this isn’t what a lot of people are saying. So the UFC has gone as far as to say that if Pereira beats Rountree and Ankalaev beats Rakic, then those two will fight each other. I chose to word it that way instead of saying they’re in the semifinals and that the winners will fight the winners.”

Sonnen further poured cold water on fans who are still waiting for the announcement of their dream matchup between Pereira and ‘Russian Terror’, adding, “It’s not actually what the UFC said; that’s just how we interpreted it. They said if Pereira wins and if Ankalaev wins, then they’ll get together. But it’s not quite what you guys think.” In the same video, Sonnen cast further doubt on whether Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev will ever happen, citing their past fights and the odds makers’ predictions, where ‘Poatan’ and Ankalaev have overlapped each other.

‘Uncle Chael’ definitely has a personal perspective on the highly anticipated fight. However, Ali Abdelaziz does not see it this way, as he recently highlighted the possibility of Ankalaev getting closer to a title shot after the conclusion of UFC 308.

Will Magomed Ankalaev fight for the gold next?

Since his debut in the UFC, Magomed Ankalaev has established himself as a formidable force, derailing every opponent with his exceptional grappling skills. He has climbed to the #2 contender position, just behind former champion Jiří Procházka, eagerly awaiting his shot at the title.

However, Ankalaev’s expectations took a hit back in August when UFC top brass and Dana White announced that Khalil Rountree Jr. would be the next opponent for the Brazilian title holder. This in turn pushed ‘Russian Terror’ to face the #5 ranked Aleksandar Rakić. Despite the initial disappointment, “Team Khabib” ultimately accepted this outcome and is now focused on their upcoming showdown with Rakić, scheduled for this month in Abu Dhabi.

Team Khabib’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, who also manages Ankalaev, shared his thoughts on the situation while speaking to MMA Fighting. He stated, “Listen, I’m happy for Khalil. It’s funny how Magomed Ankalaev is now rooting for Alex Pereira. At the end of the day, it’s the UFC’s decision. It wasn’t my decision. It wasn’t Ankalaev’s decision. But I know I’ve been told, Ankalaev do what he has to do, Alex Pereira do what he has to do, and both of them will fight next.”

What are your thoughts on Chael Sonnen’s remarks? Do you think the fight between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev will never happen, or will Dana White stick to his words? Drop your opinion below.