(autotag)Chael Sonnen(/autotag) warns everyone not to discredit (autotag)Aleksandar Rakic(/autotag).

Rakic ​​​​(14-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) will face rising top contender (autotag) Magomed Ankalaev (/autotag) (19-1-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC) in a decisive light heavyweight bout on October 26 at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.

Ankalaev was passed over for the title shot after the organization matched light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) with Khalil Rountree (13-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) in the main event of UFC 307 on Oct. 5 in Salt Lake City. Sonnen believes Rakic ​​is fully capable of stealing the show from Ankalaev, despite just losing by knockout to Jiri Prochazka at UFC 300.

“You have Ankalaev, who is clearly the No. 1 contender, at least according to you,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “And you know what? I have a little problem with that. It’s not a big problem, but I have a small one, which is that Rakic ​​is so damn good. You have to understand: Rakic ​​didn’t get a world championship fight — well, neither did Ankalaev, but Rakic ​​found himself in the next best thing.

“He’s in a match for the No. 1 title contender. That’s literally the next best thing you can get to a title fight, and he found himself there after suffering a loss. In fact, he found himself there after suffering a loss by stoppage. In fact, the fact that he’s in that position actually puts him ahead of the guy he lost to in Prochazka.”

Rakic ​​had returned from a nearly two-year injury layoff when he faced Prochazka last April. He was able to keep Prochazka off balance several times, but was ultimately overwhelmed and stopped. Sonnen believes ring rust and cardio likely contributed to his loss.

“I’m only telling you this because Rakic ​​is so good and a lot of people have forgotten,” Sonnen continued. “Rakic ​​looked good the night he lost to Prochazka, but he looked like a guy who was out of the lineup for a minute. His conditioning wasn’t where he wanted it to be and there was no way to get it.”

Related

Dana White on Khalil Rountree’s title chance against Magomed Ankalaev: “Timing is everything”

Former UFC champion Jamahal Hill hits back at Magomed Ankalaev: “You are child’s play for me”

Daniel Cormier wonders if the UFC is protecting its “gold mine” Alex Pereira by avoiding Magomed Ankalaev

For more information on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Chael Sonnen: Aleksandar Rakic ​​​​“is so damn good” and can’t be written off in fight against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 308.