Islam Makhachev, the UFC lightweight champion with a 27-1 record, recently vacated his 155-pound title to challenge welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena. Chael Sonnen, a UFC Hall of Famer and ESPN analyst, called this move cowardly, claiming Makhachev was avoiding Ilia Topuria, who left featherweight to pursue the lightweight belt. Makhachev and teammate Daniel Cormier have strongly defended the decision, emphasizing Makhachev’s courage and goal to become a two-division champion.
Sonnen, on the Good Guy/Bad Guy podcast with Cormier, said:
“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.”
Makhachev replied on X, stating:
“Chasing hype and money is not the same as chasing greatness in sport. But average athlete, who built his way to the top with cheap trash talk, won’t understand that. So please seat and watch how others doing it, uncle Chael. #doublechamp.”
Chasing hype and money is not the same as chasing greatness in sport. But average athlete, who built his way to the top with cheap trash talk, won’t understand that. So please seat and watch how others doing it, uncle Chael. #doublechamp
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) May 22, 2025
Sonnen responded:
“So don’t be shy and don’t pick fake fights w/me to get my attention.”
So don’t be shy and don’t pick fake fights w/me to get my attention
Your HERO is my ACOLYTE
So is his
NEMESISSO
are
YOU https://t.co/ANh1WoEbuI— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) May 22, 2025
Cormier Showcases Makhachev’s Fearless Record
Cormier, a UFC Hall of Famer, defended Makhachev in a YouTube video, stressing his teammate’s history of facing tough challenges.
“Here’s where I disagree with Chael….. He had been having his eyes on 170. This isn’t something new that Makhachev was talking about. And how about the fact that people constantly call Islam, they called me, or anyone that cuts weight ‘weight bullies’? What about now that he’s going up, and he’s going to fight in a weight class that most of you say is more suited for his size? How is that not doing exactly what people have called for? And Jack Della Maddalena is as tough as anyone in the UFC. He’s an amazing fighter.”
Makhachev’s career supports Cormier’s defense. At UFC 311, when Arman Tsarukyan withdrew due to injury, Makhachev fought Renato Moicano on one day’s notice and won decisively. He also defeated Alexander Volkanovski twice, including a short-notice knockout at UFC 294, and submitted Dustin Poirier at UFC 302. His four title defenses tie the lightweight division’s record. Cormier highlighted Makhachev’s willingness to take risks.
“How is that not courageous? I love Chael, and we have a lot of fun on our show, but you can’t say someone has that type of behavior when they’re doing that, and they’ve defended the belt multiple times. They fought people on short notice, they fought people coming up a weight class, they have done just about everything they can to show that they’re willing to lay it on the line.”
Cormier also emphasized Makhachev’s personal ambition.
“This is the first time that Islam has honestly put his wishes above what everybody else wants. Because when everybody else wanted him to fight Volk, he did. When everybody was looking for him to fight Arman, and Arman couldn’t, ‘Fight this guy who’s No. 5, (Renato) Moicano,’ dangerous, no training camp, he did it on a day’s notice. He’s always done it. So to say that it wasn’t a great move in that regard, I don’t agree with that at all.”
Makhachev showed loyalty by avoiding a fight with teammate Belal Muhammad until Muhammad lost the welterweight title to Della Maddalena at UFC 315.
The MMA community is split. Some fans side with Sonnen, believing Makhachev’s move avoids a high-profile fight with Topuria, who will face Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317 on June 28. Others, like former fighter Josh Thomson, argue Topuria’s own move from featherweight could be seen as dodging contenders like Movsar Evloev. Posts on X praise Makhachev’s sharp retort to Sonnen, with some calling it a “knockout” response.
Makhachev dismissed Topuria as the “big mouth from Spain” and focused on his welterweight goal. He also addressed Della Maddalena’s vow to “get a win back” for Volkanovski, showing confidence. Cormier believes Makhachev will excel at 170 pounds, as less weight-cutting could make him “more fresh” against Della Maddalena’s striking and takedown defense.
A welterweight victory could place Makhachev among UFC’s rare two-division champions, like Conor McGregor and Cormier. With his teammate’s support and a career defined by taking risks, Makhachev aims to prove his move is about pursuing greatness, not avoiding challenges.
