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The days leading up to a title fight are usually all about hype, including highlight reels, interviews, and predictions. However, as Islam Makhachev prepares to face Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title at Madison Square Garden, a different type of debate has taken center stage. And it’s not about who’s going to win, but who truly deserves to be dubbed the best fighter in the world. The conversation turned fiery when Chael Sonnen posted his latest take online. ‘The American Gangster,’ known for stirring the pot with surgical precision, was not attacking Ilia Topuria or praising the Dagestani phenom; instead, he was questioning the system itself. In his opinion, Topuria’s climb to the top of the pound-for-pound list was due to optics and timing more than combat, and the rankings rewarded noise rather than proof. Chael Sonnen claims Ilia Topuria did not earn his P4P crown Chael Sonnen stated clearly on his YouTube channel, “Islam was ranked number one. Ilia was ranked number two. Ilia moved up to 155 and challenged Islam. Islam didn’t accept that challenge—I’m not saying he turned it down—he just didn’t accept it. And they officially changed the rankings.” His tone was disappointed, not furious, similar to a teacher pointing out a fault in the curriculum. “One guy called for the fight. One guy didn’t. And somehow, the one who didn’t fight got dropped.” ‘The American Gangster’ believes the logic behind that move reveals a flaw in how the UFC now ranks greatness. Pound-for-pound rankings used to represent something concrete: the outcome of brutal fights and indisputable superiority. But when Ilia Topuria leapfrogged Makhachev without ever facing him, Sonnen argued it cheapened the meaning. The featherweight champion may have piqued fans’ interest with knockouts and charisma, but for the UFC legend, those are not substitutes for true wins. “We’re in the tough guy business,” he said. “Do you want to back somebody down? Back his a– down. It counts.” What makes this more intriguing is Chael Sonnen’s complicated stance on Makhachev himself. A few months ago, he attacked the Dagestani for abandoning lightweight to pursue welterweight gold, calling it “a sign of cowardice.” And yet, he was protecting him. That contradiction gives the comment more weight: this is not mindless loyalty but rather respect for fairness. Chael Sonnen‘s issue is not with either fighter; rather, it is with how quickly perception now trumps performance. However, this wasn’t the first time ‘The American Gangster’ has softened his stance on the welterweight challenger in recent days. Chael Sonnen wants Islam Makhachev to surpass Khabib Nurmagomedov Chael Sonnen’s tone toward Islam Makhachev has changed a bit. While some level of skepticism still remains, it is now covered with something new: respect. “This is his opportunity,” Sonnen stated, referring to Makhachev’s transition to welterweight. For once, the focus was not on being Khabib Nurmagomedov’s shadow, but on the Dagestani’s desire to step out of it. According to Sonnen, the next fight isn’t just about Makhachev seeking a second belt. It is about him establishing his own identity in a sport that still refers to him by another man’s name. “If you don’t always wanna be the parent to King Khabib’s throne,” Sonnen said, “then this is your chance.” The comment was not intended to provoke; instead, it was a gesture of acceptance. Makhachev has spent years believing he will be Nurmagomedov’s successor. But now, ‘The American Gangster’ has hinted that beating Jack Della Maddalena will transform him into someone else: a man whose story is totally his own. It’s an unexpected shift from a man who previously termed Makhachev’s move “a sign of cowardice.” But, as the fight approaches, Chael Sonnen appears to be less interested in critiquing and more in pushing him toward something bigger: not to match Khabib Nurmagomedov’s legacy, but to build one of his own.
