“I don’t know if he’s trying to troll me, rile me up, or if he truly believes what he’s saying,” Daniel Cormier recently confessed on his YouTube channel. The reason? His ‘Good Guy/Bad Guy’ co-host Chael Sonnen’s remarks about Islam Makhachev’s move to welterweight. According to Sonnen, the Dagestani juggernaut’s quest for another title in a higher weight class was a “sign of cowardice”. And now, there’s more trouble brewing…

Sonnen has thrown out another jab at Cormier. But the question is, was it also aimed at Makhachev? Or was it yet another psychological jab at Cormier? After all, the former ‘champ-champ’ has been defending Makhachev at every turn, and Sonnen definitely knows exactly how to get under his skin!

Chael Sonnen continues to poke at Daniel Cormier with a bizarre response

In a recent post on X, Daniel Cormier reached out to the fans and asked, “Hey guys, quick question I need your help. My son is graduating eight grade today. Is it weird if I bring a cameraman to film the ceremony? I really don’t want to be the weird dad that’s doing too much.”

Harmless, right? Maybe even sweet? But Chael Sonnen, never one to let a moment pass quietly, delivered a reply dipped in sarcasm. He fired back with, “I’m happy to hear Daniel is on track to his GED. I’m currently prepping my son for his trial. He will stand before a jury in do time and I want him to be prepared as possible. God bless and congrats.”

While that didn’t exactly answer the question Cormier was asking, it did raise some eyebrows in the MMA sphere. Could it be a part of the back-and-forth that’s been heating up ever since Islam Makhachev vacated his lightweight crown? After all, when Makahchev responded to the “coward” talk, he fired back hard on X, mocking Sonnen’s legacy and telling him to “sit and watch how others doing it, uncle Chael.”

That last phrase, “Uncle Chael”, might’ve seemed respectful, maybe even a way to show that it wasn’t meant as a serious dig. But Sonnen turned it into something else entirely. In his Instagram reply, he played the elder statesman role with razor-sharp sarcasm and claimed: “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.”

Another additional twist in the back-and-forth between Cormier and Sonnen? The two are set to feature as coaches on the 33 season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’, which begins airing on May 27. So, it could also be a way to drum up hype for that. After all, the show isn’t even out yet, and the war of words on X has already made it must-watch reality TV!

In the end, where Cormier wears his heart on his sleeve, Sonnen sharpens his tongue like a blade. And somewhere in the middle of it all, a proud father just wanted to film his son’s graduation! But back in the MMA trenches, the war of words didn’t end with Daniel Cormier. Another voice has joined the fray – one that’s never shy about jumping in to defend his fighters.

Sonnen comes under fire from Ali Abdelaziz with an “annoyed” phone call

Ali Abdelaziz is known for always standing by his fighters, online or otherwise. So, when Chael Sonnen made his comments about Islam Makhachev, the Dominance MMA CEO decided that it was time to pick up the phone and take matters into his own hands. According to ‘The Bad Guy’ on his YouTube channel, “Islam did not want to do that fight [against Topuria] to the extent that he, too, left the division and had his belt taken away.” Still, the drama wouldn’t be as juicy without some miscommunication in the mix.

Sonnen acknowledged that Makhachev likely didn’t know Ilia Topuria was on his trail when he set his eyes on welterweight. But the optics? Not ideal. And with a kind of line only he can deliver, he further shared, “But it’s not the way a future civilization is going to be dictated this story.” And that’s where Ali Abdelaziz made a mistake, according to Sonnen.

He confessed that Makhachev’s manager hadn’t even heard the original comment, only a retelling that painted Sonnen as the villain. How? The UFC veteran explained, “He calls me up — and I could tell by Ali’s tone and his accusations, I could tell that he did not hear me say it. He had heard the way it was reported by somebody else…and Ali was quite annoyed that I would say this about Islam.”

To wrap things up, this isn’t just about belts or rankings anymore. It’s about pride, perception, and who controls the narrative. Chael Sonnen might not have called Makhachev a coward outright, but he definitely lit the fuse. And whether it was Ali Abdelaziz’s phone call, Daniel Cormier’s hurt feelings, or Makhachev’s clapbacks, it all adds fuel to the fire.

But here’s the real question: Are we watching a feud between friends turn into something personal? Or is this just the art of fight promotion at its finest? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!