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 wait 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 means.
“Volk nonetheless desires to come back again. The place can we need to put him?” Sonnen mentioned on his YouTube channel. “I definitely wouldn’t disrespect him, and I don’t consider the UFC would. If he got here in and mentioned, ‘I’m a title shot man, that’s it,’ I consider they might say OK. However he doesn’t need to combat anyone particular. … He simply desires 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 relatively a match, a particular match. You need to know what I would like for Volk? I would like him at ’55, and I don’t need to discuss titles proper now.
“I need to see an superior match. I need to see Volk and Charles Oliveira at 155 kilos. I additionally suppose 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 may by no means return. That hope and dream is gone endlessly – endlessly. There’s not a 36-year-old that’s even returning to be given the chance. It’s to the purpose the place until you need to be a gatekeeper of some regard, right here’s your strolling papers. It could be that extreme in a title combat. That may not be the case at 155 vs. Charles.”
Volkanovski’s first combat at light-weight within the octagon was towards champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 284. Volkanovski pushed Makhachev to the brink, however finally fell quick in a detailed choice loss. He ran issues again with Makhachev on quick discover at UFC 294, struggling a Spherical 1 knockout loss.
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