UFC legend Chael Sonnen’s pep talk resulted in a brutal knockout by one of the up-and-coming stars featured on the UFC 309 prelims.
UFC welterweight Oban Elliott wanted one of his heroes, Chael Sonnen, by his side as he walked to the Octagon for his bout with Bassil Hafez at UFC 309. ‘The Welsh Gangster’ wanted to make ‘The American Gangster’ proud in arguably his biggest fight to date.
Just seconds before Elliott made the walk to the Octagon, Sonnen gave Elliott a motivational speech to shake off some of the typical pre-fight jitters. Elliott, a former Dana White’s Contender Series signee, is one of the brightest young stars in the UFC welterweight division.
Sonnen later explained on the UFC 309 broadcast desk what Elliott promised him backstage.
“I promise you Uncle Chael, I’m gonna win this one,” Elliott told Sonnen.
Elliott delivered in a big way against the always-dangerous Hafez. After frustrating his opponent over the first two rounds, Elliott needed just 40 seconds in Round 3 to flatten Hafez with an overhand right.
Chael Sonnen inspires Oban Elliott to stunning UFC 309 knockout
Elliott has explained on numerous occasions how Sonnen inspired him to pursue MMA. Sonnen’s personality in and out of the Octagon captivated the hearts and minds of UFC fans around the world.
Elliott has found a lot of success inside the Octagon since earning a contract on DWCS. He’s won eight fights in a row, including wins over Preston Parsons and Val Woodburn.
UFC 309 was Elliott’s first TKO victory since May 2022, when he submitted Herkus Lukošiūnas at Cage Warriors 138. He’s now 3-0 in his UFC tenure as he moves one step closer to a potential spot in the welterweight Top 15.
Elliott’s win was a bright spot after a last-second fight cancelation at UFC 309. Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders was called off due to Anders suffering from an undisclosed illness.
Chael Sonnen remains ‘undefeated and undisputed’ after UFC 309 fighter’s win
During his fighting career, Sonnen was one of the biggest UFC stars. While he never earned a UFC world title, he defeated many legends during his run, including victories over former UFC champions Michael Bisping and Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson.
Sonnen retired in 2019 after a loss to Lyoto Machida at Bellator 222. Since his fighting retirement, he’s transitioned into one of the top analysts in MMA, hosting numerous programs.
In addition to his pay-per-view marketability, Sonnen was one of the most important names in MMA during his UFC tenure. His ability to promote himself, and his opponents, inspired many of the UFC’s modern stars.
Elliott has a long way to go to achieve Sonnen’s level of stardom. But, he’s off to a great start in his UFC career and could potentially require Sonnen’s counsel for future fighting assignments.