The comments from Chael Sonen come after confirming that Islam Makhachev will leave its lightweight title and will go to Welterweight later this year.
The decision of the Russian to focus on the supremacy of two division has fueled the debate, whereby some accused him of the 'diving' of former featherweight Kingpin Ilia Topuria.
The Georgian-Spaniard itself is preparing for a weight switch. With Makhachev who leaves the division, Topuria will fight against Charles Oliveira for the empty belt of 155 pounds on UFC 317 on 28 June.
It goes without saying the Dagestani is expected to act heavily in the structure of that fight, and Sonnen is one of those who are less than impressed by Makhachev's Avoidance from Topuria.
“The bottom line is that you openly introduced a division that you said that you will not meet any of the best guys,” said Sonnen during his Good Guy/Bad Guy show on ESPN Mma's YouTube channel.
“That is not a sign of courage. That is a sign of cowardice. I don't like the idea.”
Josh Thomson who is not surprised by the approach of Chael Sonnen to assess Islam Makhachev
Sonnen is no stranger to raising eyebrows with some bizarre takes, but the branding of the pound-for-pound top hunter in the UFC a 'Coward' attracted more attention.
And even before that comment 'The Bad Guy' was taken under fire from one of the former Makhachev teammates at the American Kickboxing Academy.
After seeing the 48-year-old previously claimed that Makhachev “did everything you could do not do not fight Ilia,” Josh Thomson responded with an airy accusation of his own accusation about the apparent contempt of Sonen opposite Dagestani Wrestlerers.
“I thought it was hilarious,” Thomson said during his ways in Podcast. 'If you don't know anything about Chael … What I will tell you is that he is a Russian/Dagestan thrust hater.
“I have done promos with him and we have talked about it. … He will tell you that there is no such thing as Sambo, it does not exist, it is a stolen judo art, and it is a generic version of American wrestling.
“This is Uncle Chael at his best. He is through and through American,” Thomson continued. “If it has something to do with Russian struggle or Dagestan Wrestling … he goes the other way every time.
“I actually sent him a text message and said:” I'm going to roast you, man. '… you believe that Islam has fled the weight class to avoid that fight with Ilia? [Movsar] Evloev. “
Ilia Topuria shares Chael Sonnen sentiment about Islam Makhachev
For many, the comments of Sonnen fit in his persona and may not fully reflect his real beliefs. But there is not the same doubt when it comes to the use of comparable terminology by Topuria.
During a word war between the couple on X, Topuria Makhachev noticed a 'coward', who repeated the claim of Sonen that the Dagestani left the lightweight division to prevent their matchup.
“The difference between you and me is that I am a man and that you are a coward. I speak and fight, you talk and hide. Ren far away, leave no trace,” wrote Topuria.
The difference between you and me is that I am a man and that you are a coward. I speak and fight. You talk and hide. Run far away and leave no trace. I ыален ago пацан. https://t.co/kduhdib8t
– Ilia Topuria (@topuriailia) 15 May 2025
View tweet
For now, the feud of the couple only remains online. With regard to the Octagon, Topuria has its focus on Oliveira and Makhachev will soon focus on Jack della Maddalena.
But with the three-division UFC ambitions from Topuria, perhaps the possibility of a resorting competition in De Kooi is not yet completely off the table.