‘I believe in you stud!’… Chael Sonnen’s pep talk leads to a wild knockout on UFC 309 prelims

UFC legend Chael Sonnen's pep talk resulted in a brutal knockout by one of the rising stars of the UFC 309 prelims.

UFC welterweight Oban Elliott wanted one of his heroes, Chael Sonnen, by his side as he walked into the Octagon for his fight with Bassil Hafez at UFC 309. 'The Welsh Gangster' wanted to make 'The American Gangster' perhaps proud biggest battle yet.

Photos by Leandro Bernardes/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

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 Contender Series signee to Dana White, 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 going to win this one,” Elliott told Sonnen.

Elliott performed in a big way against the always dangerous Hafez. After frustrating his opponent in the first two rounds, Elliott needed just 40 seconds to flatten Hafez with an overhand right in round 3.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Chael Sonnen inspires Oban Elliott to a stunning UFC 309 knockout

Elliott has explained on numerous occasions how Sonnen inspired him to pursue MMA. Sonnen's personality, both inside and outside 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 with DWCS. He has won eight fights in a row, including victories over Preston Parsons and Val Woodburn.

UFC 309 marked Elliott's first TKO win since May 2022, when he submitted Herkus Lukošiūnas at Cage Warriors 138. He is now 3-0 in his UFC stint and moves one step closer to a potential spot in the welterweight Top 15.

Elliott's victory was a bright spot after a last-second fight cancellation at UFC 309. Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders was canceled because Anders was suffering from an undisclosed illness.

Chael Sonnen remains 'undefeated and unchallenged' after the UFC 309 fighter's win

During his fighting career, Sonnen was one of the biggest UFC stars. Although he never won a UFC world title, he defeated many legends during his run, including wins 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 has become 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 still has a long way to go to reach Sonnen's stardom. But he's off to a great start in his UFC career and could potentially need Sonnen's advice for future fight assignments.

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