UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier was stunned by the assessment of Chael Sonnen from Islam Makhachev.
UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhacheve's Move to Welterweight led Chael Sonnen to question the intestinal reinforcement of Pound-For-Pound King.
After Makhachev had announced his switch to Welterweight to challenge the title of Jack della Maddalena, many accused him of diving a fight against Ilia Topuria. This includes Sonnen, who went a step further by labeling the decision of Makhacheve, a 'cowardly' movement with the Topuria fight on the table.
Many of the current and former teammates of Makhachev, including Josh Thomson, have reprimanded Sonnen for his assessment. It was not long before Sonnen's ESPN-MEDE-GASTHORD Daniel Cormier weigh.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Daniel Cormier Deep dives into Chael Sonnen's 'cowardice' comments about Islam Makhachev
During a recent upload to his YouTube channel, Cormier responded to Sonen's controversial comments about his old teammate.
“I don't know if he is trying to troll me, to confuse me, or if he really believes what he says,” said Cormier. 'I don't like the idea [of cowardice]… he had his eyes aimed at 170, this is not something new that Makhachev spoke about. And what about the fact that people constantly call Islam, me or someone who cuts weight 'weight bullying'? What is it that he goes out and he will fight in a weight class that, according to most of you, is more suitable for his size?
“How does that not exactly what people have asked?” Cormier continued. “How is that not brave? I love Chael, and we have a lot of fun in our show, but you can't say that someone has that kind of behavior when they do that, and they have defended the belt several times. Short-notice, a weight class come up, they have done just about everything they can show that they are willing to put it on the line …
“This is the first time that Islam has put his wishes over what everyone wants. Because if everyone wanted him to fight against people, he did that. Arman? And when he couldn't, he fought Micano. Dangerous, not a training camp, he did it one day.
At the moment Makhachev did not respond directly to the statement of Sonnen. The former rival of Topuria and Makhachev, Charles Oliveira, will fight next month for the liberated lightweight title of Makhachacthev on UFC 317.
Charles Oliveira predicts a fast night versus Ilia Topuria on UFC 317
Oliveira is not missing because he is preparing for possibly Topuria's loss of the first career at UFC 317. In a recent sitdown with fully violent, Oliveira predicted a brutal knockout from Topuria when they meet in the Octagon next month.
Oliveira's prediction comes after months of Scherts on social media between the former lightweight champion and Topuria. A rising UFC star, Jean Silva, offered to replicate Topuria in the Vechtkamp of Oliveira after a detailed breakdown of the observed errors of Topuria.
As UFC 317 approaches quickly, the tensions between Topuria and Oliveira rise. But Makhachev's shadow over the division remains considerable after his shocking decision to leave the belt.