The two hosts of the Good Guy/Bad Guy show on ESPN have shared different takes on Islam Makhachev, making the move to the welterweight division. Chael Sonnen recently sounded off on the soon-to-be lightweight champion for chasing Jack Della Maddalena instead of fighting Ilia Topuria. His words affected Makhachev so much that the Dagestan native decided to take aim at the legend’s career, asking him to pipe down a bit. On the other side, Daniel Cormier is on his former teammate’s side.

While it’s established that Islam Makhachev and Daniel Cormier share a close bond, which developed since their time at the American Kickboxing Academy, ‘DC’ shared an impartial take on his ex-teammate’s 170lbs move. As we all know, Makhachev is always game to fight anybody who steps up to him. He may have decided to ignore Ilia Topuria, claiming that he’s already fought featherweights, but that’s not him being a ‘coward’, according to Cormier, as Chael Sonnen claims.

Instead, Daniel Cormier claims that this is the first time that Islam Makhachev wants to do something that he wishes to do. He’s already fought 12 fights before getting a chance at UFC gold. As such, ‘DC’ claims Makhachev has earned his opportunity to fight for a second belt. “This is the first time that Islam has put his wishes above what everybody else wants,” Cormier stated on his YouTube channel.

This gesture has earned Daniel Cormier love and praise, especially from Islam Makhachev’s camp. His former head coach, who now coaches Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team, Javier Mendez, shared a message for ‘DC’, praising him for showing solidarity and understanding what Makhachev wants, like everybody in his team. “[Daniel Cormier] supports brother [Islam Makhachev] the way we all do,” the AKA coach wrote on his Instagram stories.

While Daniel Cormier has continued to show his support for Islam Makhachev, Chael Sonnen just doesn’t seem to stop taking aim at Islam Makhachev. After the soon-to-be former lightweight champion sounded off on Oregon native, ‘The American Gangster’ gave it back to him. Here’s what Chael Sonnen had to say.

Chael Sonnen sends a fiery response to Islam Makhachev

Chael Sonnen loves to talk trash. After all, that’s what helped him become one of the biggest draws during his years fighting as an active fighter. Well, at least that’s what Islam Makhachev has to say, but he’s not the only one. Even Tito Ortiz said it back in the day when he was paired up with Sonnen in Bellator. While the response from ‘The American Gangster’ to Ortiz is one that fans still talk about, the one he said for Makhachev was aimed at not only him but his team as well.

Chael Sonnen claims that Islam Makhachev’s whole team was trying to get some attention by calling him out on a public platform because nobody likes to watch their fights. “When you’re tired of rolling around in front of bored crowds and drawing fewer viewers than a Hog-Hollerin’ contest, get in touch. You won’t be the first guy from your gym who begged me for material,” the UFC legend wrote on X.

Well, the back-and-forth seems to be getting intense between Islam Makhachev and Chael Sonnen, but he’s got to worry about the path he’s carved for himself. Some may mock the soon-to-be lightweight champion for his welterweight move, but recent posts suggest that he’s looking bigger than ever. Do you think he can win the second belt? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.