Chael Sonnen: 'Anthony Pettis Would Smash GSP, Period'

Chael Sonnen hasn’t shied away from his opinion that Georges St-Pierre deserved the decision win over Johny Hendricks, but against Anthony Pettis, he believes the UFC Welterweight champ would get smashed, period.

The ballsy proclamation came in a Twitter post on Thursday.

St-Pierre, who defended his UFC title for a ninth consecutive time at UFC 167, has toyed around with the idea of either moving up to the middleweight division or dropping down to lightweight.

During the UFC 167 pre-fight press conference, he told the media that he believed it would be easier for him to drop weight considering his already medium size frame as a welterweight. If he’s able to make 155 pounds, a bout with Pettis certainly makes for an interesting superfight.

Unfortunately, it’s pretty unlikely the stars will align for that bout to ever come to fruition. St-Pierre admitted in his comments at the pre-fight presser that making lightweight would be a tough transition for him at this point in his career.

It would require a high-profile nutritionist and a drastic dietary change, and this is all assuming his body, which is already incredibly lean, reacts appropriately to the weight cut.

As for Pettis, his stock has definitely skyrocketed since defeating Benson Henderson for the lightweight title in August. His name has been popping up all over the place involving bouts against marquee names like Jose Aldo, BJ Penn and now St-Pierre.

It’s still interesting that Sonnen would give Pettis an edge over St-Pierre, who would have a significant strength and grappling advantage. Pettis’ lone loss in the UFC came at the hands of Clay Guida, who utilized his superior wrestling to score takedowns and ride out the clock from top position.

If a puncher’s chance is all Sonnen is banking on, St-Pierre likely quelled all questions regarding his chin from the many haymakers he absorbed during his bout with Hendricks.

As a fighter, Sonnen is known for trash talking and fueling hype for upcoming bouts, but as an MMA analyst, he has always been open and honest when breaking down fights. A part of him must truly believe Pettis would dominate St-Pierre in a fight. 

Is “Showtime” really ready to compete against one of MMA’s all-time greats?