The air has been buzzing with talk of Ilia Topuria’s surrendered featherweight championship, leading to a broader discourse about the UFC’s practice of dispossessing fighters from their titles. Mixed martial arts commentator Chael Sonnen has thrown his hat into the ring of discussion as speculations circulate regarding Islam Makhachev contemplating a leap to the welterweight division. Sonnen contends that stripping Makhachev of his title would be unthinkable, primarily attributing this belief to the formidable stature of Khabib Nurmagomedov in the realm of UFC.
In Sonnen’s view, Khabib’s overwhelming prowess and reverence in MMA are so formidable that UFC administrators would balk at the notion of antagonizing him. In a recent discourse, Sonnen convincingly argued about the reverential status and authority Khabib Nurmagomedov commands in MMA. He firmly asserted that Khabib’s influence would deter anyone from considering the idea of dispossessing Islam Makhachev of his title.
Sonnen reflects on the occasion when Khabib, post-retirement, wished to surrender his title, and the organization decidedly declined the offer. This incident was marked to emphasize the considerable clout Khabib wields within UFC. Alongside this, Sonnen vehemently speaks about Ilia Topuria’s case. According to the UFC, Topuria relinquished his title, a narrative which Sonnen perceives as a camouflage to the reality that the title was, in fact, taken away from Topuria.
Using this as a case in point, Sonnen aims to shed light on the UFC’s strategies in handling its titles and the potential role influential MMA figures like Khabib, widely recognized as invincible, play in these decisions. Emblematic of his stance, Sonnen boldly states, ‘Crossing the indomitable Khabib Nurmagomedov is a line no one dares to tread. Even when Khabib attempted to return his own title, there was no acceptance. While the UFC narrative insists that Ilia Topuria gave up his championship, their actions speak a different story – it was taken away.’
The fighting prowess of Islam Makhachev seems to dwindle in Khabib Nurmagomedov’s absence. This performance aftermath is ascertained by Coach Javier Mendez. Mendez made a point to openly acknowledge the vacuum created by Khabib’s absence, substantially influencing Makhachev’s performance and exemplifying the pivotal role of Khabib’s presence in his corner.
Mendez emphasized how Khabib’s extensive experience and tactical input have largely contributed to Makhachev’s success in the ring. The stark impact of Khabib’s absence was most apparent during Makhachev’s intense debut fight against Volkanovski, where the lack of Khabib’s support manifested in Makhachev’s performance.
In the sequel fight, a distinct shift was noticed by Mendez with Khabib back in Makhachev’s corner. Mendez shared his observation of Khabib’s guidance proving to be an enormous advantage, handing Makhachev the much-needed upper hand. The profound impact of Khabib’s presence, both in terms of his fighting acumen and strategic planning, cannot be underemphasized.