Why Chael Sonnen needs Alexander Volkanovski to combat at light-weight

Chael Sonnen thinks Alexander Volkanovski dangers harming his legacy if he competes for the UFC featherweight title subsequent.

Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) misplaced the belt at 145 kilos to Ilia Topuria by knockout at UFC 298 in February – his second straight knockout loss. Volkanovski initially entertained the concept of taking a combat at light-weight subsequent however has opted to attend for the winner of Topuria vs. Max Holloway, which headlines UFC 308 on Oct. 26.

Sonnen disagrees and thinks if Volkanovski fights Charles Oliveira, for instance, at light-weight, he has nothing to lose. But when he fails to regain his featherweight title, it should set him again in a giant approach.

“Volk nonetheless needs to come back again. The place will we wish to put him?” Sonnen stated on his YouTube channel. “I actually wouldn’t disrespect him, and I don’t imagine the UFC would. If he got here in and stated, ‘I’m a title shot man, that’s it,’ I imagine they might say OK. However he doesn’t wish to combat anyone particular. … He simply needs the title again. That may be a completely different motivation. I received’t query it. I’m talking for me, as a fan. I might somewhat a match, a particular match. You wish to know what I need for Volk? I need him at ’55, and I don’t wish to speak about titles proper now.

“I wish to see an superior match. I wish to see Volk and Charles Oliveira at 155 kilos. I additionally assume outcome-wise, I believe you land in a better spot whether or not you beat Charles otherwise you don’t beat Charles. You go right into a championship spot and also you get beat, that can by no means return. That hope and dream is gone ceaselessly – ceaselessly. There’s not a 36-year-old that’s even returning to be given the chance. It’s to the purpose the place except you wish to be a gatekeeper of some regard, right here’s your strolling papers. It might be that extreme in a title combat. That will not be the case at 155 vs. Charles.”

Volkanovski’s first combat at light-weight within the octagon was in opposition to champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 284. Volkanovski pushed Makhachev to the brink, however in the end fell quick in an in depth resolution loss. He ran issues again with Makhachev on quick discover at UFC 294, struggling a Spherical 1 knockout loss.