UFC Corridor of Famer Chel Sonnen lately said the one purpose he believes Islam Makhachev and Ilya Topria ought to combat now. Sonnen additionally criticized the UFC rankings committee for inflicting confusion over time.
In 2025, Topuria moved as much as 155 kilos and grabbed the light-weight strap vacated by knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. After this victory, “El Matador” was additionally topped pound-for-pound kingpin, ending Makhachev’s reign that lasted 602 days.
Topria’s reign did not final lengthy, nonetheless, as Islam Makhachev, who defeated Jacques Della Maddalena at UFC 322 to turn out to be two-division champion, regained the highest spot on the P4P charts.
Sonnen talked about how Topria misplaced the P4P title regardless of not dropping a combat and the way the rating committee ceaselessly causes confusion, mentioning one of many the explanation why the tremendous combat between Makhachev and Topria should occur now. he mentioned:
“That is the primary time that Islam and Ilya are literally combating over one thing. One thing was taken away from Ilya. And in sports activities, you possibly can usually stand your floor. You solely concede positions that you simply concede or another person can take from you. Neither of these issues occurred to Ilya, however he misplaced his place…That is the primary time that Ilya and Islam have one thing to combat about, they usually collectively select to not combat.”
See Chael Sonnen’s feedback under (7:24).
Sonnen additionally believes that the identical enthusiasm that followers had when watching the match between “El Matador” and Makhachev previously is progressively lowering attributable to different thrilling matches which can be at the moment going down.
Ilya Topria desires to combat Islam Makhachev for ‘pound-for-pound title’
Ilya Topria is at the moment out of motion for private causes and is more likely to return after the primary quarter of 2026. When he returns, he’ll face the winner of the UFC 324 headliner to unify the belts.
Nevertheless, the Georgian-Spanish has beforehand expressed curiosity in transferring as much as welterweight to combat Islam Makhachev, and even combating the Russian at catchweight. ‘El Matador’ is hoping the UFC will give him the pound-for-pound title in opposition to Makhachev. Topria informed Alvaro Colmenero:
“Perhaps I will have another combat, and possibly at some point in the summertime[the UFC]will transfer me as much as welterweight. Or possibly they’re going to create a brand new belt known as the pound-for-pound title at catchweight. And I’ll combat for that.”
Take a look at Ilia Topuria’s remark under.
😳 Ilya Topria desires to combat Islam Makhachev for the “pound-for-pound” title at catchweight
“Perhaps I will get another combat, and possibly sometime in the summertime (the UFC) will let me transfer as much as welterweight.
Or they could create a brand new belt known as… pic.twitter.com/oiLb3yLKtn
— House of Combat (@Home_of_Fight) November 24, 2025
Nevertheless, Chel Sonnen believes essentially the most helpful choice for the UFC is to maneuver Topria as much as welterweight and have him combat Islam Makhachev for a 3rd title.
