Daniel Cormier dissects and dismantles Chael Sonnen’s accusation against Islam Makhachev running away!
Nothing creates more buzz in the MMA fight scene than when two respected voices clash over a fighter’s career choices. This time, the spotlight falls on Islam Makhachev’s bold decision to move up to welterweight and chase Jack Della Maddalena’s title. Chael Sonnen, the current ESPN analyst dropped a bombshell by calling Makhachev’s welterweight pursuit an act of cowardice. According to Sonnen, the lightweight king was simply running away from a dangerous fight with Ilia Topuria. But his ESPN co-host Daniel Cormier wasn’t having any of it. The former two-division champion fired back with a passionate defense that left no stone unturned.
Also Read: Renato Moicano Gives His Unfiltered Opinion On A Potential Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria Fight
Cormier didn’t hold back when addressing Sonnen’s harsh assessment of his longtime teammate. The UFC Hall of Famer pointed out something that many critics seem to forget: Makhachev had been eyeing the welterweight division for quite some time. This wasn’t some last-minute escape plan to avoid Topuria. The Dagestani champion had openly discussed moving up in weight long before the Georgian featherweight even became the champion at 145 pounds.
“I don’t know if he’s trying to troll me, rile me up, or if he truly believes what he’s saying. I don’t love the idea of cowardice…he had been having his eyes on 170, this isn’t something new that Makhachev was talking about. And how about the fact that people constantly call Islam, me, or anyone that cuts weight ‘weight bullies’? What about now that he’s going out and he’s going to fight in a weight class that most of you say is more suited for his size? How is that not courageous?”
The former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion made an excellent point about the weight cutting debate. For years, fans and analysts have labeled fighters like Makhachev as “weight bullies” for cutting significant amounts of weight. Now that Makhachev decides to fight bigger opponents at their natural weight, he gets called a coward? The logic doesn’t add up, and Cormier wasn’t afraid to call out this double standard.
The lightweight champion has consistently put the fans’ wishes above his own preferences throughout his reign. When everyone wanted to see him fight Alexander Volkanovski, he did it twice. When Arman Tsarukyan couldn’t make it to their scheduled bout, Makhachev stepped up against Moicano on a day’s notice. These aren’t the actions of someone who picks easy fights.
Daniel Cormier made it clear that this welterweight move represents the first time Makhachev has truly put his own ambitions first. After years of taking whatever fight the UFC and fans wanted, he is finally chasing his own dreams of becoming a two-division champion. There is nothing cowardly about a smaller man voluntarily fighting bigger opponents in their weight class.
“This is the first time that Islam has put his wishes above what everybody else wants. Because when everybody else wanted him to fight Volk, he did. Arman? And when he couldn’t, he fought Moicano. Dangerous, no training camp, he did it on a day’s notice. He’s always done it.”
Meanwhile, Topuria and Charles Oliveira will battle for Makhachev’s vacated lightweight title at UFC 317 next month. The welterweight division awaits Makhachev’s arrival, with Jack Della Maddalena holding the title. Some top welterweights have already warned about the Australian’s danger, but Makhachev has never been one to back down from a challenge. His move up in weight might just prove that greatness comes from taking risks, not avoiding them.
(Image Credit: Troy Taormina – Imagn Images)
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