{"id":47244,"date":"2025-05-03T14:46:04","date_gmt":"2025-05-03T13:46:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/?p=47244"},"modified":"2025-05-03T14:46:09","modified_gmt":"2025-05-03T13:46:09","slug":"chael-sonnen-questions-islam-makhachev-motives-for-allegedly-dodging-ilia-topuria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/chael-sonnen-questions-islam-makhachev-motives-for-allegedly-dodging-ilia-topuria\/","title":{"rendered":"Chael Sonnen Questions Islam Makhachev\u2019s Motives For Allegedly Dodging Ilia Topuria"},"content":{"rendered":"

Islam Makhachev stands at a career crossroads that many champions face. The lightweight king demolished Renato Moicano at UFC<\/a> 311 with relative ease. His dominance left fans wondering what challenges remain at 155 pounds. Makhachev has always made his intentions crystal clear. “I’m not gonna leave this sport without a second belt.”<\/em><\/strong> This statement has garnered a lot of speculation about his future. Would he face former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria moving up? Or would he pursue welterweight gold against whoever holds the belt after UFC 315?<\/p>

This isn’t the first time fans have seen a dominant champion eye double-champ status. Conor McGregor blazed this trail years ago. Henry Cejudo, Amanda Nunes, and Daniel Cormier followed suit. The allure of holding two belts simultaneously represents the pinnacle of MMA achievement. Makhachev’s mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov never pursued this path, making Islam’s ambition particularly interesting.<\/p>

But Ilia Topuria represents a fresh threat. He is undefeated, supremely confident, and publicly calling for the fight. The Georgian featherweight champion knocked out Volkanovski in spectacular fashion as well as the unbreakable Max Holloway, setting up a potential super-fight that has fans salivating!<\/p>

Also Read: Cinco de Mayo Weekend Boxing Fest 2025: Is This the Greatest Boxing Card of the Year?<\/a><\/p>

Chael Sonnen Calls Out Double Standards<\/h2>

Chael Sonnen is never one to hold his tongue. He recently fired shots at Makhachev’s logic. The ‘Bad Guy’ pointed out a glaring contradiction in the lightweight champion’s thinking.<\/p>

\n

“If you’re team Islam and you’re sitting around and waiting cause you believe you’re going to 170 lbs and get a title shot against Jack Della Maddalena…if you’re refusing Ilia Topuria as he hasn’t done anything in the weight class and I lose to him, it’s too big of a risk. We will take that same argument and sticking up your a** at 170, where you haven’t done anything,”<\/em><\/strong> said Sonnen in a recent YouTube video.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>

\n