Controversy erupts as Chael Sonnen disagrees with Alex Pereira's UFC 291 victory

The aftermath of UFC 291’s co-main event has left fans and analysts divided with Chael Sonnen expressing strong disagreement with the judge’s decision to award Alex Pereira a split-decision victory over Jan Blachowicz. Pereira making his light heavyweight debut edged out the former champion in a closely contested bout. But Sonnen believes that the judges got it wrong and that Blachowicz should have been declared the winner.

In the highly anticipated showdown at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Pereira showcased his striking prowess and versatility delivering an impressive performance against the seasoned Blachowicz. Throughout the three-round battle, both fighters exhibited their skills but Blachowicz appeared visibly exhausted from Round 2 onwards potentially due to the altitude. This fatigue according to Sonnen, may have played a pivotal role in the judge’s decision-making process.

“There’s no reasonable world where Alex Pereira won that fight, and that’s not Chael’s opinion. That’s math,” Sonnen expressed on his YouTube channel. “He lost Rounds 1 and 3.”

While Sonnen refrained from labeling the decision as a “robbery.” He emphasized that the numbers and data clearly indicated that Blachowicz had the upper hand in the fight. However, only Judge Junichiro Kamijo shared Sonnen’s perspective leading to the split decision verdict in favor of Pereira.

Chael Sonnen disagrees with Alex Pereira’s UFC 291 victory

Sonnen believes that Blachowicz’s visibly exhausted body language played a significant role in the judges’ assessment. The fatigue was evident, and Blachowicz struggled to maintain the same level of movement and energy as the fight progressed. In contrast, Pereira showcased remarkable conditioning and composure which Sonnen argues may have swayed the judges in his favor.

“It was wrong,” Sonnen asserted. “There is nothing by the numbers that could get you to the conclusion that Alex won. You can look at takedowns, you could look at attempts, you could look at strikes, you could look at kicks, you could look at the defense and see who slipped more punches.“

Controversial decisions are not uncommon in mixed martial arts. With judges often face scrutiny and criticism for their scoring. Sonnen contends that the judges may have factored in an unofficial criteria fatigue. While not explicitly within the rules the visible exhaustion displayed by Blachowicz may have unconsciously influenced the judges’ perception of the fight.

Despite the disagreements surrounding the decision. Pereira’s victory marks an impressive debut in the light heavyweight division. As a highly skilled striker with a renowned Muay Thai background. He has already made waves in the UFC with highlight-reel knockouts. His transition to the light heavyweight division brings exciting possibilities for future matchups and potential title contention.

For more UFC news and updates

Read: UFC 291: Preview, Prediction, Fight Card, Where to Watch, Venue, and Tickets

Read: UFC 291 results: Justin Gaethje claims BMF title with stunning knockout victory Over Dustin Poirier

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