A prominent figure in mixed martial arts has made a significant claim, suggesting that UFC lightweight champion and pound-for-pound king, Islam Makhachev, took deliberate steps to avoid a showdown with Ilia Topuria.
Instead of defending his lightweight title against `El Matador`, Makhachev has reportedly opted to vacate his championship and challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight crown.
The potential size difference between Makhachev and Topuria has been a point of discussion. While some believe Topuria would be too small for the Dagestani fighter, others disagree. Tyrone McKinney, for instance, asserts that Topuria is capable of knocking out much larger opponents during training.
Regardless of the differing opinions, the highly anticipated potential match-up between these two leading fighters appears unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future.
Chael Sonnen Claims Islam Makhachev Avoided Topuria
Chael Sonnen, a well-known MMA icon, openly expresses admiration for Islam Makhachev`s fighting abilities.
However, despite his respect, Sonnen contends that the skilled grappler intentionally avoided a potential bout with Ilia Topuria.
In a video posted to his YouTube channel, `The American Gangster` explicitly stated, “Islam did everything you can do to avoid that fight. That’s just the truth, guys, that’s just what happened… Islam did everything you could conceivably do to not fight Ilia, including leave the division, including leave the championship.”
Sonnen further argued that leaving a division and being willing to be stripped of a championship is the most definitive method within the sport to steer clear of a particular opponent. He suggested that Makhachev`s move to the 170lb division, particularly into what he termed a “handpicked match” against Della Maddalena, should not be automatically framed as solely a valiant pursuit of a second title.
UFC Legend Predicts Jack Della Maddalena Will Defeat Islam Makhachev
Makhachev`s quest to become a two-weight UFC champion by moving up a division presents a considerable challenge. His opponent, Jack Della Maddalena, is a formidable striker who demonstrated his capability to handle high-level wrestlers in his performance against Belal Muhammad.
One former UFC titleholder is convinced that `JDM` possesses the necessary qualities to achieve an upset victory.
This legend provided an analysis of the upcoming contest, concluding that Della Maddalena is positioned to defeat Makhachev.
Gareth Pendleton