The MMA world loves a good feud. And when Chael Sonnen’s words collided with Islam Makhachev’s pride, it didn’t just spark a debate, it set the internet ablaze. But somewhere between the heat of the banter, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows: Ali Abdelaziz. So, how did we get here? It all seemingly began after UFC 315, when Islam Makhachev decided to jump ship from lightweight to welterweight.

With his friend Belal Muhammad losing the belt to Jack Della Maddalena, the coast was clear for Makhachev to chase a second title. But not everyone celebrated the decision. Enter ‘The Bad Guy’. According to Sonnen, “You are so interested in getting away from this guy that you not only leave your belt, you leave your division, and the whole thing is only contingent that you don’t have to fight [Ilia Topuria].”

Makhachev wasn’t about to let it slide, and he clapped back hard, firing off a post on X where he questioned Sonnen’s legacy. Then came the dagger as he wrote, “So please sit and watch how others doing it, uncle chael.” While the Dagestani warrior is known for his incredible fight IQ inside the Octagon, he might have miscalculated when he fired off a jab at a man known for eviscerating his opponents on the mic.

And so, in a response shared on Instagram, Sonnen fired back with a mix of sarcasm and sentiment as he stated, “There are many paths to greatness, son. Travel yours as I traveled mine, and I will be there to help you as you stumble as I always have. Signed, Uncle Chael.”  In a brilliant display of what made him iconic on the mic, Sonnen then went through a list of sign-offs that included, “your guardian angel”, “your elder brother” before ending it with, “And in the future, if I want your opinion, I’ll beat it out of you. No.No. No. Leave that part out. Let me extend an Olive branch.”

But as this war of words played out, fans started looking beyond the fighters. Many pointed fingers at a familiar behind-the-scenes figure: Ali Abdelaziz. It wouldn’t be the first time the outspoken manager, who represents Makhachev and a stable of Dagestani fighters, was accused of tweeting on behalf of his clients. Tony Ferguson once famously dismissed him as a “Twitter warrior,” sparking debates that still haven’t cooled off. Here’s a look at what the netizens had to say!

Chael Sonnen’s response to Islam Makhachev leaves fans raising an eyebrow at Ali Abdelaziz’s involvement

One fan wrote, “Once I saw Islam mentioning Chael on this tweet I knew it was a wrap.” And they weren’t wrong. The moment Makhachev directly named “Uncle Chael,” the drama escalated. After all, just ask Anderson Silva or Tito Ortiz, as a war of words with ‘The Bad Guy’ only ends in embarrassment and a spot on his trash-talk highlight reel!

Another fan claimed, “Chael u got cooked, brother ngl”. It seems Sonnen’s poetic bars weren’t enough for everyone. The mix of shade and conviction in Makhachev’s message? Apparently, it hit just right. What do you think?

Yet, suspicion ran deep as one fan pointed out, “It’s not Islam, It’s Ali”. Given Ali Abdelaziz’s history of managing social media battles from the sidelines, some fans were quick to dismiss the authenticity of Islam’s message. The style, the tone, the hashtag, too polished? Too perfect? Maybe not even Makhachev’s own words?

But as this fan posted, “Yeah I did not expect this to be the new beef”. Let’s face it: Makhachev vs. Sonnen wasn’t on anyone’s 2025 bingo card. Yet here we are. A generational clash, with old-school trash talk colliding with modern dominance. Now the question remains, will there be an “I can’t let you get close” moment between the pair like the one that happened between Wanderlei Silva and Sonnen? Only time will tell!

Then, a fan dropped this bomb, writing, “At least Chael fought the greatest and didn’t run from the greatest. Islam got a title shot off of beating Bobby Green and defended against people he should have fought prior to a title shot.”  While Islam Makhachev’s resume is still being written, Sonnen has already cemented his place in MMA lore. With battles against names like Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Fedor Emelianenko, Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, Mauricio Rua, and more, Sonnen may not have been a dominant champion like Makhachev, but he was always game to take on the best the sport had to offer!

In the end, this unlikely feud between Islam Makhachev and Chael Sonnen is more than just a clash of egos, it’s a collision of eras. On one side stands the stoic Dagestani with his eyes on two-division glory. On the other hand, the king of quips and chaos, always ready to turn a feud into folklore. And somewhere in that mix, Ali Abdelaziz lurks, muddying the waters with his ever-present fingerprints on social media drama.

So what happens now? Will Islam Makhachev continue his barrage against Sonnen, possibly guided by Ali Abdelaziz? Or has Sonnen’s response done enough to lay the feud to rest? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!