Chael Sonnen: Ilia Topuria won’t get UFC champion Islam Makhachev without beating a top lightweight first

Chael Sonnen thinks Ilia Topuria will have to earn a shot at UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.

Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) vacated his featherweight title for a move up to 155 pounds. Makhachev previously stated that a fight with “another featherweight” in Topuria doesn’t interest him, and his manager Rizvan Magomedov wants to see “El Matador” in a title eliminator.

With UFC CEO Dana White refusing to commit to Topuria as the next title challenger at lightweight, Sonnen thinks that likely means he’ll have to beat a top contender first.

“Charles (Oliveira) and (Arman) Tsarukyan are in a battle, and the battle is for Ilia,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “Charles is not likely to go right into a title fight against Islam. The only reason I say that is that Islam wants some fresh blood. Ilia is not going to get a title shot even though he would fit the request of being fresh blood. You’ve got Ramadan.

“Ilia is vacating, and no mention of Ilia. It would look as though Ilia is going to have to do a fight first. Ilia vs. Islam right now works, (but) it’s not a massive fight. However, Ilia vs. Islam, if Ilia defeats Charles first, is a complete other conversation. It can’t go right now – you’ve got to have Ilia prove that he can do it, and that either takes you through Tsarukyan or it takes you through Charles.”

Ramadan is starting in the beginning of March, which means Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) likely won’t have any fight news until the month is done. Makhachev is fresh off a title defense against Renato Moicano at UFC 311, after his original opponent Arman Tsarukyan withdrew. White said he’s not interested in rebooking Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan after Tsarukyan pulled out just a day before their fight.