The most captivating storyline in the UFC this year is that of the former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who recently vacated his throne to try and take the belt in a division above his own from Jack Della Maddalena. While for some it’s news of happiness and joy as the Dagestani phenom begins a new chapter of his MMA career, some feel like the announcement does not come out of ambition, but instead out of fear.

And fear of whom? It’s the ‘El Matador’ Ilia Topuria, who, a few months ago, vacated his featherweight title to fight for the lightweight gold and Islam Makhachev. Though his wishes were fulfilled, his opponent is different. After Makhachev vacated the 155-pound gold, Topuria will clash against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. This led many to believe that Makhachev avoided Topuria till the last moment to evade the potential fight. If not many, UFC legend Chael Sonnen certainly believes so.

At the heart of this saga is the ‘Bad Guy’ Chael Sonnen. The outspoken former UFC contender and analyst has recently intensified his criticism of Makhachev’s decision to sidestep a potential bout with Topuria and has garnered quite the attention and criticism for himself.

While sitting on his iconic couch, the ‘Bad Guy’ said, “The idea of that Islam was not running from Ilia Topuria is very hard to convince 12 people dumb enough to not find a way out of jury duty. I mean here comes Ilia Topuria. The most decorated, the greatest record. To show his sincerity that this is about you and me, I’m gonna give my shiny trinket back. The problem I’ve got is that there was somebody and it was due to kindness that it was off limits. Because you are my brother. That, I do have a problem with.”

So, what does it mean now after so much has gone down? Is Chael Sonnen right? Or is he just really out of his bounds? It’s hard to imagine Makhachev being a coward or evading opponents when we have seen him claw out a victory in the most suffocating positions. Is Sonnen being fair?

So what did Cormier have to say on all of this? The UFC Hall of Famer certainly couldn’t just sit back and take the slander. The long-time friend of Islam Makhachev and his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, was rather shocked by these statements, yet he had a befitting reply for it nonetheless.

Daniel Cormier comes out to defend Islam Makhachev on coward allegations

The debate between Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier regarding Islam Makhachev’s decision to move up to welterweight, thereby bypassing a potential fight with Ilia Topuria, has sparked considerable discussion within the MMA community. Many of the fans are criticizing Sonnen for his statements, as Sonnen has been particularly vocal in his criticism, suggesting that Makhachev’s move is a strategic avoidance of a challenging bout with Topuria.

In contrast, Cormier offers a more nuanced perspective. He acknowledges Makhachev’s past willingness to accept challenging fights, including short-notice bouts, and suggests that the decision to move up in weight is not necessarily an act of avoidance but a pursuit of new challenges. Cormier stated, “Islam isn’t a coward. Dude ain’t doing what he doesn’t want to do.” 

‘DC’ further added, “It’s just a matter of he put his goals in front of what everybody else wants right now. So Chael, I’m calling BS on that.” Indicating that Makhachev is making choices aligned with his personal goals and career trajectory, and not to host fights where his risks are always higher than the reward.

This divergence in viewpoints between Sonnen and Cormier highlights the complexity of fighter decisions in the UFC, where career strategy, personal ambition, and public perception often intersect. Yet coward or not, Islam Makhachev has already made his move. He has already opened the next chapter of his career, it’s just a matter of time before this chapter is filled with accolades, too. Can Islam Makhachev prove his doubters wrong with huge success at welterweight? What do you think? Let us know in the comments.