It’s ‘insulting’ for Islam Makhachev to face Ilia Topuria

Chael Sonnen refuses to consider that UFC champion Islam Makhachev is avoiding Ilia Topuria.

Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) beforehand stated he wasn’t concerned with defending his light-weight title towards one other featherweight in Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who’s vacating his belt for a transfer as much as 155 kilos.

Makhachev’s supervisor additionally stated he’d prefer to see Topuria earn his shot on the title by preventing a prime contender. However contemplating two of Makhachev’s 4 title defenses got here towards ex-featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski, Sonnen says it isn’t truthful to place him in that predicament once more.

“My first sense is that’s faux information, and it’s an actual insult to Islam,” Sonnen stated on “Good Man/Dangerous Man” with Daniel Cormier. “I don’t consider that Islam’s scared to struggle anyone. I feel the proof of that truth could be the truth that he switched opponents and took on ‘Cash’ Moicano with no coaching camp, no preparation, simply because it’s the proper factor to do, and made positive that the golden rule was adopted, which is the present should go ahead.

“I don’t consider it to be any greater than a rumor. I additionally suppose it’s somewhat bit insulting to be the one to need to ask Islam, ‘Will you struggle a ’45 pounder’ contemplating that will make the third ’45 pounder that Islam was compelled to face. And the one factor Islam has ever informed us is that he himself want to change weights. So, if he himself will not be allowed to do the one factor that they’re asking him to do 3 times over, I’m mild on that. I don’t suppose it occurs.”

Cormier, a longtime coaching companion of Makhachev’s, agrees with Sonnen.

“Preventing Alexander Volkanovski, who on the time was No. 1 pound-for-pound – you bear in mind when their first struggle occurred? It was whoever wins can be thought of the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on the earth,” Cormier stated. “As a result of Islam is (No.) 2, Alex was 1.

“Islam beats him, but it surely was very shut, after which we had this bizarre (second) the place Alex and Islam have been No. 1 pound-for-pound. For some time it was like two No. 1s and Islam was like, ‘Wait, give me what you stated I used to be going to get,’ after which the world then stated, ‘Why would you like that? You beat a ’45 pounder.’”