February 28, 2025 10: 00 pm ET
Chael Sonnen thinks Ilia Topuria will have to earn a shot at UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) vacated his featherweight title for a move up to 155 pounds. Makhachev previously stated that a fight with “another featherweight” in Topuria doesn’t interest him, and his manager Rizvan Magomedov wants to see “El Matador” in a title eliminator.
With UFC CEO Dana White refusing to commit to Topuria as the next title challenger at lightweight, Sonnen thinks that likely means he’ll have to beat a top contender first.
“Charles (Oliveira) and (Arman) Tsarukyan are in a battle, and the battle is for Ilia,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “Charles is not likely to go right into a title fight against Islam. The only reason I say that is that Islam wants some fresh blood. Ilia is not going to get a title shot even though he would fit the request of being fresh b