Chael Sonnen He is a former fighter and current commentator. (Photo: Reproduction/Facebook @bellatormma)
After breaking the all-time record for defenses of the Ultimate lightweight belt (up to 70,3 kg), Islam makhachev may be close to changing categories. At least, this is the opinion of Chael Sonnen. According to the American gangster, the Russian's current situation can be compared to that of his friend and coach, Khabib Nurmagomedov, who reigned in the category between 2018 and 2020, and retired after defeating Justin gaethje No. UFC 254.
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“The biggest problem Islam has is something that beat his coach twice and ended up retiring him – Khabib didn’t retire because he didn’t want to fight Conor (McGregor) a second time. The UFC gave him the wrong numbers. Every time they had a meeting, they showed him more commas and more zeros. That was the wrong number. If they had gone to the 77-pound weight class, they would have signed Khabib for one more fight. They’re going to end up having the same problem with Islam,” Sonnen said in an interview with the American website 'MMA Junkie'.
K. Nurmagomedov announced his retirement in October 2020. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter @ufc
According to Sonnen, the main reason behind Khabib and other athletes' retirement would be a difficulty in continuing to make weight.
“The No. 1 reason any combat athlete retires — they say it’s because their contract is up, they say it’s because they’re fed up, they say it’s because it’s so much talk — the No. 1 reason any combat athlete retires is because they don’t want to make that weight anymore. They don’t want to beat the scale. Everything that goes with that. It’s a 24/7 lifestyle to burn those calories and beat that damn scale,” said Sonnen, who peaked at middleweight (83,9 pounds) and fought at heavyweight (120,2 pounds).
Islam Makhachev has already talked about gaining weight
Islam makhachev (lightweight) on the side of Belal Muhammad | (welterweight). pic.twitter.com/svbn3AhlDB
— La Sueur (@LaSueur_off) August 2, 2024
The idea of Makhachev leaving the lightweight division is not new. The Russian has expressed his desire to seek a second belt on several occasions. More recently, he even considered a dispute with Dricus Du Plessis, owner of the middleweight belt (up to 83,9 kg), since Belal Muhammad |, welterweight champion (up to 77,1 kg.) is an occasional training partner of the Dagestan Clan.
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