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Credits- Imago

via Imago
Credits- Imago
Dricus Du Plessis called Islam Makhachev an ‘easy paycheck’ and maybe that was a more dangerous jibe than a curse. DDP went straight to the jugular when he insinuated that Makhachev was ‘small’ compared to him (for obvious weight class differences) and this is something no lightweight wants to hear. The South African star hit the bullseye. So now what?
See, it’s not a good idea for a lightweight and middleweight to fight because of the obvious weight class difference and size disparity. This is almost like the time when Ronda ‘Rowdy’ Rousey was compared to Floyd Mayweather by fans and MMA personalities alike. Even Dana White had said that Rousey could beat Mayweather when the latter had insulted her addressing the female fighter as ‘he’.
But why did Chael Sonnen invoke this comparison while speaking about Makhachev vs DDP? Well, it’s because Dana White was promoting Rousey when he pitted her against Mayweather. So according to ‘The Bad Guy’ one had a weapon and the other had no way to defend it. He said, “Dana was right into the thick of it. When people were telling the media that Ronda Rousey could beat Floyd remember that? As a way of promoting Ronda? There was nothing Floyd could do. And it was to the point where you almost felt right cause that’s a fight. That’s a verbal fight, that’s a fight on stage. But one of them has a weapon and one of them cannot defend the weapon.”
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So is Dricus Du Plessis trying to show his charisma? According to Sonnen–yes. Along with that, DDP also used his charisma as a weapon to challenge Makhachev where the latter had nothing else to do but increase his weight class

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Credits: Imago
Makhachev already spoke about his aspirations of being a double champ. However, it might be difficult to go to the 170lbs because his friend Belal Muhammad is occupying the throne. So naturally 185 and 205lbs are the options.
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“Islam’s got to talk about (Alex) Pereira at 205, and he’s got to talk about Dricus at 185,” Sonnen informed MMA Junkie. “And that’s weird, and that’s not anything that anybody will take seriously, but he has to do that because his friend has the belt at 170.” So does the LW champ just want an escape from his weight class?
Chael Sonnen offers the real reason for Makahchev to go to a higher-weight class
Dricus Du Plessis will defend his middleweight crown against Sean Strickland at UFC 312 but what about the next fight for the winner? For DDP, there is already a taker and it’s none other than Makhachev who announced his goals to fight ‘Stillknocks’. He said in the UFC 311 post-fight presser, “Just give me the chance, that’s it. I will fight [Dricus] du Plessis. If they give me the chance, I will fight him also. I swear, if Dana White sends me the contract, I will fight him also.”
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But according to Sonnen, the real motivation for the Dagestani is not a new title or challenge “he wants out of the weight class.” He also compared Makhachev’s situation to Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired in 2021 with undefeated 29-0. One reason, according to ‘The American Gangster’ was because the UFC was not offering him the adequate terms and conditions to continue.
Now DDP has already instigated Makhachev by saying he is an ‘easy payday’ and focused on the huge weight class difference. So the fight is far away but the story just began, just like the time when we witnessed the verbal spat between Rousey and Mayweather. What do you think of Chael Sonnen’s perspective on Islam Makhachev? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Does Islam Makhachev really want out of his weight class, or is he seeking a new challenge?
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Does Islam Makhachev really want out of his weight class, or is he seeking a new challenge?
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