Sonnen Making His Pick For Punk vs. Gall

One of the most intriguing fights taking place this Saturday Night at UFC 203 will be a welterweight division clash between former professional wrestler CM Punk and Mickey Gall.

Longtime UFC veteran and current World Series Of Fighting personality Chael Sonnen recently sat down with Sports Illustrated to give his prediction on this highly anticipated encounter…

“When I watched Punk train, I liked the way he attacked. I liked how busy he was with his jab, I like that he finished everything with a kick, I like the way he forces the clench and forces guys up against the fence. When he wasn’t attacking, and the guys were coming after him, I thought that it was a case of Punk’s best defense is a good offense. He started with jiu-jitsu, but I’m not certain he wants to go to the ground with Gall. I think Gall wants to be the one to take him there, so I’ll be looking to see if they’re standing up or they’re on the ground. If I were in Punk’s corner, I would feel a little more confident if he were standing. Punk really respects Anthony Pettis, and I know that he watches Pettis spar, and I’d like to see him standing up. That’s where he focused a lot of his attention, and Duke Roufus is such a good coach, and he is a puncher and a kicker. Punk has been one-on-one with Duke Roufus for the last two years—I would like to spend two hours with Roufus—and he knows what’s going on. I think this is a pretty quick fight. The nerves are going to help lead to that. It’s Punk’s first time out there, and Gall is getting thrown right into a card with a fight for the heavyweight championship of the world, it’s a big deal. That would lend to both guys’ gas tanks emptying a little quicker, and I’ll give you one prediction: this is over in the first round.”

Sonnen is definitely one of the best analyst in the MMA world right now, but we will have to wait until Saturday Night to see if his prediction comes true.