Chael Sonnen Invites Islam Makhachev’s Wrath as UFC Legend Doubles Down on Ilia Topuria Fight Ducking Allegations

After reigning supreme as the UFC lightweight champion for over 900 days, Islam Makhachev’s dominant era has finally drawn to a close. His fourth successful title defense not only cemented his legacy but also signaled the end of a remarkable journey that began back in 2015. Over nearly a decade, the Russian climbed the ranks, dismantling almost every top contender in the division and leaving little doubt about who ruled the 155-pound weight class.

Yet, it wasn’t just Islam Makhachev’s dominance that stood out—his move to 170 lbs raised eyebrows for another key reason. Jack Della Maddalena dethroned Belal Muhammad at UFC 315, effectively removing Islam Makhachev’s close friend and longtime sparring partner from his path. That result only solidified Makhachev’s decision to move up. With the lightweight division largely cleared out and few fresh challenges remaining, the reigning champion has now turned his attention to the welterweight division.

However, the transition hasn’t come without controversy—mainly because it abruptly ended the growing buzz around a potential bout with Ilia Topuria at 155 lbs, the former featherweight champion, had vacated his title and division specifically to pursue a fight with Islam Makhachev at lightweight. Many fans saw it as a true superfight in the making. But Islam’s decision to move up seemingly closed the door on that opportunity—leaving many disappointed and others questioning his motives.

One of the most vocal critics has been UFC veteran and analyst Chael Sonnen. During an episode of his podcast Good Guy/Bad Guy, co-hosted with Islam’s longtime friend Daniel Cormier, Sonnen didn’t hold back. He accused Islam Makhachev of dodging the real challenges, claiming the move to welterweight had nothing to do with seeking new glory—and everything to do with avoiding certain fighters.

“Islam went up not out of courage. Islam did not go up to add hardware to his mantle,” Sonnen said. “He went up with one intention—which is: ‘I don’t have to fight Belal Muhammad.’ Now he can sit around and say, ‘I could beat Belal. I won’t go up and beat Belal because I can.’”

Uncle Sonnen continued, “But the bottom line is: you entered this division and openly said you wouldn’t face one of the top guys. That’s not a sign of courage—that’s a sign of cowardice. I don’t love the idea, but you have to understand what happened.”

At one point, reports indicated that had Belal Muhammad secured a win that night, the Dagestani native would have remained in the lightweight division. In fact, many fans anticipated a blockbuster showdown between Makhachev and Ilia Topuria at UFC 317 during International Fight Week. But that clash never came to fruition. Instead, UFC 317 will now be headlined by a different title bout: Charles Oliveira vs.Makhachev for the vacant lightweight championship.

UFC veteran revealed why Chael Sonnen is against Islam Makhachev’s decision

Chael Sonnen’s ongoing criticism of Islam Makhachev seems to go beyond mere fight analysis—it appears rooted in a long-standing dislike for Russian martial arts, particularly Sambo. Fans recognize the lightweight legend, along with Khabib Nurmagomedov and other Dagestani fighters, as a Sambo master. Sonnen’s disdain for the discipline isn’t new; back in 2018, while ‘The Eagle’ was the reigning lightweight champion, Sonnen openly dismissed Sambo, famously saying it “sucks.”

The controversy has resurfaced recently, with Sonnen once again pushing the narrative that Islam Makhachev is avoiding a fight with Ilia Topuria. This ongoing criticism caught the attention of others in the MMA community, including former UFC and Strikeforce fighter Josh Thomson. On a recent episode of his Weighing In podcast, Thomson weighed in on Sonnen’s remarks, suggesting the issue runs deeper than just matchups.

“Look, if you don’t know anything about Chael other than the fact that he does things like this, what I’ll tell you is this: he’s a Russian/Dagestan wrestling hater,” Thomson said. “I’ve done promos with him and talked to him when we worked together at Bellator. He will tell you that Sambo doesn’t even exist.”

Still, the notion that Sonnen’s criticism stems purely from personal dislike doesn’t hold up completely, especially since he has shown respect for Khabib Nurmagomedov and praised the legendary Sambo turned MMA fighter Fedor Emelianenko. What’s your take on Chael Sonnen’s claims? Do you think Islam Makhachev really avoided Ilia Topuria? Share your thoughts below.

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