According to a UFC legend, Ilia Topuria should move to a third weight distribution if he wants to get hold of Islam Makhachev.
With the former lightweight champion on the way to welterweight instead of 'El Matador', the Spanish-Georgian now has a new challenge.
On UFC 317, Topuria will wage war with Charles Oliveira for the lightweight Kroon, in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
And if he won, an MMA icon suggests that he has to do everything in his power to ensure that Makhachev finally fights against him.
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Chael Sonnen says that Ilia Topuria must move to Welterweight for Islam Makhachev Fight
Although Chael Sonen said that Islam Makhachev has done everything to avoid Ilia Topuria, the former medium -sized challenger of the middleweight did not give up the hope that the couple can share the Octagon one day.
'The American Gangster' is adamant that the former featherweight champion should give his rival no other choice than to fight him.
In a video that was uploaded to his YouTube channel, the analyst said: “If Ilia Topuria really chases the Islam Makhachev, if that is the great story – Topuria vs Islam – go down it.
“From a strategic point of view, he should have went from 145 pounds to 170 pounds, and he would have had him. You can't tell him that he can fight Islam for the world title and then tell him that he cannot fight against Islam for the world title – it's the same.
“We are fighting about something that was never done anyway, we never had champion, champion, champion.
“If he can come through Charles Oliveira, that is good enough to take him to Islam. If he is now good enough for Islam, he is good enough for Islam on 170 pounds.
“That is his argument; he has to make it. I don't argue for him, I let you know, the number one key is not the punches and the stairs. The number one key is getting the chance.”
UFC lightweight it says that the size does not matter whether Ilia Topuria is fighting against Islam Makhachev
Chael Sonen's comments indicate that he does not believe that Topuria is too small to compete with Makhachev, regardless of the weight class.
And he is not the only expert with this opinion.
A mixed martial artist has seen images of the Power Puncher in training that convinced him that the Underdog would have a very good chance.
The UFC star claims that Topuria eliminates much larger hunters in the gym.