Islam Makhachev’s welterweight move: a sign of courage or cowardice?
After five straight title fight wins, the UFC Lightweight Champion is getting ready to make more history in the weight class above.
That’s right, in the aftermath of UFC 315, Islam Makhachev decided he’d be moving up to the welterweight division where he looks to take on newly-crowned champion Jack Della Maddalena for a second belt.
Although, Makhachev would have to leave his title behind much like his rival Ilia Topuria did at featherweight in pursuit of the lightweight champion.
While some praise Makhachev for taking a risk at 170lbs, others criticize him for not fighting Topuria in what would have likely been the biggest fight in UFC history since Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov.
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Chael Sonnen calls Islam Makhachev’s UFC move ‘a sign of cowardice’
Makhachev has considered a move to welterweight for a while now, previously stating that he wouldn’t move up if his friend Belal Muhammad was still the champion.
That was a tell for three-time UFC title challenger and analyst Chael Sonnen, who had this to say about Makhachev’s move to welterweight:
“Islam went up, not out of courage,” Sonnen began on Good Guy / Bad Guy.
“Islam did not go up out of adding hardware to put on his mantle. He went up with one condition, which is I don’t have to fight Belal Muhammad. He can sit around and say, ‘I could beat Belal. I wouldn’t go up and because I can beat Belal…’
“The bottom line is you entered a division openly that you 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.”
Chael Sonnen suggests Islam Makhachev ran from Ilia Topuria
Meanwhile, Ilia Topuria had been waiting in the wings, campaigning for a lightweight title fight.
Topuria will meet Charles Oliveira for the vacant title at UFC 317 on June 28th. Shortly after the fight was announced, Topuria and Makhachev exchanged words on social media with the Spaniard calling Makhachev a ‘coward’ for not facing him.
“You have an undefeated number one ranked world champion who’s chasing you down,” Sonnen said of Makhachev.
“[Topuria] is willing to leave his division behind. He’s willing to walk away from his belt to chase you down.
“You are so interested in getting away from this guy that you not only leave your belt, you leave your division, and the whole thing is only contingent that you don’t have to fight.
“This is not the way champions conduct themselves,” Sonnen said.