Chael Sonnen Believes Islam Makhachev is Being ‘Notoriously Quiet’ Ahead of Potential UFC Title Shot
Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen spoke out on his YouTube channel and chimed in on the championship landscape in the lightweight division. Ever since Charles Oliveira was stripped of his belt, things have been murky at 155-pounds given that there is no clear figurehead.
However, one prominent name to fight for the vacant title is Islam Makhachev and Chael Sonnen believes he is strategically positioning himself for a title shot at the first opportunity he gets. Makhachev is on an impressive 10-fight win streak and he’s been a dominant force to be reckoned with inside the cage.
“Islam is also notoriously quiet”- Chael Sonnen
According to Sonnen, Islam Makhachev has been lying low as he doesn’t want to jinx his shot at the crown. The Dagestani mauler believes his body of work speaks for itself and he is now hanging back to see how the UFC proceeds with match-making.
The top contender in Charles Oliveira has got his sights set on being the top dog in his own right and he will want to face a worthy foe in Islam Makhachev. Beating Makhachev would give Charles Oliveira unparalleled supremacy and could possibly lure his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, out of retirement.
“You would think you would hear more from [Islam Makhachev]. Islam is also notoriously quiet. He probably believes in something like the laws of attraction. He’s probably got his fingers crossed somewhere.”
“He probably somewhere doesn’t want to jinx it… I don’t know why I’m the only guy talking about [Makhachev vs. Oliveira] and then representatives of Islam talk about the fight, representatives of [Charles Oliveira] talk about the fight. I don’t hear Charles talking about the fight. I don’t hear Islam talk about fight.” [h/t sportskeeda.com]
The main contender who rivals Islam Makhachev’s position is Beneil Dariush. The Iranian-American fighter has accrued an impressive win streak on his own and feels like the shot at gold belongs to him. One thing is for sure, the UFC lightweight division is an embarrassment of riches and the number of worthy contenders who are capable of contesting for the gold strap is truly astounding.
