“Wasn’t an early stoppage for me,” Chael Sonnen legitimizes Sergei Pavlovich’s controversial win at UFC 277

“Wasn’t an early stoppage for me,” Chael Sonnen legitimizes Sergei Pavlovich’s controversial win at UFC 277

Chael Sonnen- Sergei Pavlovich

MMA Legend Chael Sonnen has taken yet another route of unpopular opinions and this time, Sergei Pavlovich’s win was not an early stoppage. Not so long ago, Pavlovich, who was on a 3-fight winning streak pre-UFC 277, elevated to 4 wins at the event when he secured the biggest win of his career by defeating Derrick Lewis via first-round TKO.

This was Lewis’ third loss in his home state of Texas. What’s next for Lewis, as many suggest is a rematch against Pavlovich since the majority believed that the fight was rather not a justified stoppage and the referee Dan Miragliotta took the action unnecessarily. Before another shocking loss in Texas, Lewis lost in the big state to former-interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane and then also to #3 ranked heavyweight Tai Tuivasa.

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Also Read: Sergei Pavlovich viciously knocks out Derrick Lewis in the first round of their contest at UFC 277

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“He has an obligation,” Chael Sonnen defends referee Dan Miragliotta’s decision for saving Lewis early

Sergei Pavlovich
Sergei Pavlovich

In one of the videos on his Youtube Channel, Chael Sonnen talks about how he thinks the other way around when it comes to criticizing the referee’s decision in this particular heavyweight clash between Lewis and Pavlovich.

“They’re saying it’s an early stoppage, look, it wasn’t for me. When I saw this live I thought Sergei hit him about 15 times, unanswered. When I watched the replay, it was different. Most of the punches missed, but not all of them, and it only takes one… (but) once somebody goes down and then they get cracked at full speed, the referee has an obligation,” said Sonnen.

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What do you make of Sonnen’s unique assessment of Lewis and Pavlovich’s situation? Do you agree with Sonnen? Do you think a rematch is justified between Lewis and Pavlovich? Who do you think will win? Do you see Pavlovich becoming a world champion in the future?

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