All Will Not Be Well in Khabib and Islam Makhachev’s Camp After Dana White Suspected to Call Drastic Measures for UFC 317

Generally, maintaining a professional and positive relationship, Dana White and Khabib Nurmagomedov have helped each other with a lot of things. Khabib, as a box office name, garnered millions of dollars and fans for the UFC as White gave a platform to the Dagestani to flourish and prosper. All that has been put at stake following the decision for the UFC 317 main event and ‘The Eagle’s stand for his prodigy. However, heading into the most hyped annual phase of the UFC, International Fight Week, the organization has found itself in the middle of a huge uncertainty that can brutally impact White’s relationship with the legendary fighter-turned-coach.

After announcing his plans to move up and pursue the double-champ status, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has been put in a rather difficult situation. At a time when he is supposed to already be in the welterweight contention, the UFC has reportedly asked Makhachev to vacate his title before moving up. Addressing this action by the MMA giant, Chael Sonnen came forward to warn the UFC to rethink their choices when it comes to Coach Khabib Nurmagomedov and his prodigy, Islam Makhachev.

“There’s no way that’s true, nobody would dare cross King Khabib no way. Not in this, they wouldn’t, even when Khabib tried to give his own damn belt back they wouldn’t accept it. He was shoving it in their face and they were like, they wouldn’t put their hands on it. So they’re not going to take it off of his heir apparent. That’s not going to happen, okay so that’s that’s out that’s also it’s unless Islam.” ‘The Bad Guy’ explained how the UFC cannot cross Khabib’s terms whether it was for him or his student Makhachev.

Sonnen did not hold back with his words. He advocated for Islam Makhachev, saying they are rather stripping him off his belt and not having him vacate, as it is largely being portrayed. Claiming the same situation occurred with Ilia Topuria as well, Sonnen believes Makhachev, who hasn’t asked for anything but a move up to welterweight, should have his wish granted.

“But by the way the only thing that Islam wants to do, the only thing Islam has ever told us, he’s never asked for anything, not for money, for dates for car plates or opponents, he’s asked for one thing which is he’d like to be a 170 pounder. He don’t want to be at 55 anymore and now that you open a presence and you let a 45 pounder no longer be a 45 pounder, it gets a little hard to tell Islam he’s got to beat the only thing he’s got problems with which is the scale.”, ‘The American Gangster’ said to Daniel Cormier.

He further added, “So you know you can call it stripping I guess. They’re trying to insist to us that Ilia vacated the title I’m willing to play along, but they only vacated the title because they say he vacated the title. If you look at the actions of what actually happened he was stripped.”

If this is the case for Makhachev right now, as per Sonnen’s words, the UFC will really need to reconsider their choices before arriving at any big decisions. With his one foot in the lightweight division and another in the welterweight, Makhachev is stuck between defending his 155-pound title at UFC 317 against Ilia Topuria or vacating it and being replaced by another lightweight.

Ilia Topuria rumored to main event UFC 317. Will Islam Makhachev vacate the lightweight title?

The lightweight division is considered by a majority in the MMA community as the most exciting division of the UFC. With contenders like Charles Olivera, Arman Tsarukyan, and the latest addition Paddy Pimblett, the division guarantees fireworks in every match-up. And with the entry of the Spanish-Georgian Ilia Topuria in the mix, who the UFC has promised a shot at the 155-pound belt, Makhachev has more than enough threats to lookout for at his current throne. If Makhachev plans to move up, however, the dynamics will direly shift for the lightweight contenders.

With so many challengers to the throne of Islam Makhachev, its safe to say Ilia Topuria has won the race for the title shot but Team Khabib does not want to face yet another featherweight. The lightweight champion cleaned through the opposition presented to him at lightweight, and after two defenses against 145-pound champ Alexander Volkanovski, he is in no mood to make three title defenses against featherweights, that too, in a row. This is where Sonnen’s insights come in handy.

The conundrum for Islam Makhachev is that if he wants to keep the lightweight title around his waist, he has to stand against Topuria at UFC 317. If Khabib and his team choose not to do so, and keep their focus on the welterweight move, then they shall have it, but without the lightweight gold. One thing’s for sure, a huge news is about to take over the fight community soon and it will have everything to do with the UFC 317 main event. Ilia’s wishes have most likely been granted since he has already made the sacrifice, will Islam have to through the same process? What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

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