Islam Makhachev has been told that he’s got it all wrong with his view on Ilia Topuria’s climb to becoming pound-for-pound king.
Much of this year has featured talk of a potential super fight between Topuria and Makhachev. That has been put on the backburner for the time being after both made high-profile divisional switches.
As the Dagestani continues to gear up to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title and two-weight glory, June saw Topuria knock out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to follow his featherweight reign with a quick crowning at 155 pounds.
While the pair remain on separate rosters for the time being, that hasn’t stopped their growing feud from being a prominent topic. And the latest comments saw Makhachev cause a stir after his status as the top P4P fighter was taken away.
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Chael Sonnen explains why Islam Makhachev’s theory on Ilia Topuria is wrong
During a recent episode of his Good Guy/Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Chael Sonnen reacted to Makhachev’s latest remarks about Topuria. The former lightweight champ claimed the Spaniard’s rise to top spot in the pound-for-pound order was purely down to promotional reasons.
‘The American Gangster’ explained why the Dagestani was mistaken, outlining that if the UFC was actually influencing who held top spot in the P4P rankings for the sake of marketing, Makhachev would actually still hold the crown.
“I don’t believe Islam was correct in his assessment that this is for marketing,” Sonnen said. “If it was for marketing, they would have kept it around him!
“Ilia’s got a world championship they can fight over. Islam does not!
“I think that Islam’s math was a little bit backwards on that,” Sonnen continued. “But if that’s something that he needed to get motivated and get us towards that fight, I am for it.”
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Islam Makhachev tipped to take P4P crown back from Ilia Topuria
In the eyes of another UFC legend, Makhachev should instantly be back on the pound-for-pound throne if he adds the welterweight title to his collection later this year.
Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev is 90 percent agreed for Madison Square Garden in November, according to the Dagestani. And should he become the latest to achieve two-division glory, a second title is not the only reward Cormier thinks Makhachev would be owed with a victory over the Australian champ.
“He (Topuria) is the number one pound-for-pound fighter today,” Cormier said on his 3 Rounds show with Din Thomas on YouTube. “But if Islam is able to beat Jack Della Maddalena, it flips again and Islam goes back to number one.
“Only because of this, (his) fighting style will then be proven to go up to the next weight class. Islam will have done everything Topuria has done at a heavier weight. Four title defenses at 155 (pounds), and then the new champion at welterweight.
“So yes, I agree, he (Topuria) is pound-for-pound number one today,” Cormier continued. “But I think the moment Islam is able to win, he then goes back to pound-for-pound number one.”