Islam Makhachev trashes ‘average athlete’ Chael Sonnen after claiming he was ducking Ilia Topuria; Sonnen responds

Islam Makhachev guarantees he’s constructed totally different than Chael Sonnen and that’s why the previous UFC title challenger can’t perceive his choice to chase greatness by going after a second championship in a brand new weight class.

On Thursday, Makhachev fired again at Sonnen after the retired fighter and present UFC analyst claimed is was a “signal of cowardice” that the Russian was going after welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena quite than sticking round at light-weight to face Ilia Topuria.

“You might be so concerned about getting away from this man that you simply not solely depart your belt, you allow your division, and the entire thing is barely contingent that you simply don’t should battle [Ilia Topuria],” Sonnen stated. “Not for nothing, this isn’t the way in which champion’s conduct themselves.”

Makhachev, who already set the file for probably the most title defenses in UFC light-weight historical past with 4 in a row, fired again at Sonnen whereas reminding him what championship mindset is de facto all about.

“Chasing hype and cash shouldn’t be the identical as chasing greatness in sport,” Makhachev wrote on Twitter. “However common athlete, who constructed his approach to the highest with low-cost trash speak, gained’t perceive that. So please [sit] and watch how others doing it, uncle Chael.”

Makhachev has lengthy said that he needed to develop into a two-division UFC champion however he resisted making the transfer to welterweight beforehand as a result of his pal and frequent coaching associate Belal Muhammad was holding the title.

After Muhammad misplaced the belt to Della Maddalena at UFC 315, Makhachev instantly expressed his curiosity in shifting as much as 170 kilos to problem for that second title.

Whereas he finally needed to relinquish his light-weight belt to go there, Makhachev is scheduled to face Della Maddalena later this yr with hopes that he can be a part of a really unique membership of UFC fighters who’ve held titles in two totally different divisions.

As for Topuria, he’s nonetheless getting an opportunity to battle for light-weight gold when he faces Charles Oliveira in the primary occasion at UFC 317 in June.

Following Makhachev’s put up on Twitter, Sonnen additionally responded with certainly one of his personal that made a bit much less sense.