The fact that Islam Makhachev has double-champ aspirations is no secret. The most obvious course of action for him is to move up a weight class and challenge for the 170-lb title. However, there lies the problem. His friend and teammate Belal Muhammad is the welterweight champion, and Makhachev doesn’t want to fight him. What’s the next best move? Middleweight? Not out of the realm of possibility since the lightweight champ walks around at 185 lbs outside competition. Further, he also expressed that he could possibly beat middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis.
But what’s more intriguing in all of this are the claims made by MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz. The Arab-American fight personality claimed that Islam Makhachev could beat anyone in any weight class. However, he mentioned one particular name that understandably drew the ire of many in the community. “I think Islam will beat Alex Pereira at 205, I do.”, said Abdelaziz to MMA Junkie. These claims made by the MMA manager before UFC 311 didn’t sit well with fight analyst and former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen.
Taking to his YouTube channel, ‘The American Gangster’ said, “I should remind you don’t forget Islam went all the way to 205 lbs. He could be champion up to 205 pounds. Now it’s at that point that the person conducting the interview reminds him who the 200-pound champion is.”
He further added, “Maybe you heard Alex Pereira left the division. Maybe you forgot about Alex Pereira because you don’t study the division. But they reminded him who the champion was.” Everyone knows about Islam Makhachev‘s grappling credentials and a fantasy matchup is a classic case of a striker versus a grappler. But Sonnen isn’t buying the fact that Makhachev’s confidence in his wrestling could offset the light heavyweight champion. “Islam’s argument for why he could beat Pereira is quite frankly guys – it’s annoying.”, Sonnen concluded.
Islam Makhachev | via Imago
Sonnen reasoned that fighters shouldn’t respond to callouts from those in lower weight classes. Perhaps Makhachev is drawing from his own experience of Alexander Volkanovski stepping up to challenge him. But again, dual-weight championship aspirations are not new, with several fighters, including his own teammate Daniel Cormier enjoying double-champ status. But what does Chael Sonnen think of Makhachev actually getting a shot at another title? Let’s take a look.
Chael Sonnen’s verdict on Makhachev’s double champ dream
Sonnen pointed out that the lightweight division is one of the most stacked divisions with the toughest fighters. No other belt is as tough to win or retain in MMA than the UFC’s 155-pound belt. And Makhachev, the holder of the belt, is due to surpass his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov with another win.
But according to ‘The American Gangster’, the Dagestani does not possess one thing that McGregor, ‘The Eagle’, or even Ilia Topuria seem to have– charisma. “And simply Islam won’t be given the opportunity… But as far as even getting an opportunity to have another belt, I do not believe that will happen for him. I don’t think he has the charisma to go out and do what needs to be done to get that play,” Sonnen added.
So, the verdict is in. Chael Sonnen doesn’t think that Islam Makhachev will get a title shot. But how well have Sonnen’s predictions gone in the past? A mixed bag, to the lightweight champion’s benefit. Only time will tell if the UFC grants the Dagestani champion a crack at another belt. What are your thoughts? Do you think we’ll see Makhachev as the latest double champion? Let us know in the comments down below.
The post “It’s Annoying”- Chael Sonnen Hates Islam Makhachev’s Argument for Double Champ Status After UFC 311 appeared first on EssentiallySports.