"We're gonna fight for your belt"– Chael Sonnen suggests a solution for Leon Edwards to fight Jorge Masvidal without putting the UFC welterweight belt on the line
Chael Sonnen has come up with a solution to set up a fight between Leon Edwards and Jorge Masvidal without title implications.
Even before Edwards became champion, he had a long-standing feud with 'Gamebred' over a backstage incident that saw the Miami native throw punches at 'Rocky'. Now, as the welterweight champion, Edwards wants to exact revenge.
Leon Edwards responded to Jorge Masvidal's call out. 👀
Is it time to make the fight? 🔥 https://t.co/tB0dvvlHfj
However, Masvidal does not qualify as a fighter who can challenge for the belt. He is not even among the top ten fighters in the division and has lost his last three UFC outings. Advising the reigning champ Edwards, Chael Sonnen came up with a solution for the dilemma:
"And I would tell him [Jorge Masvidal], I'm not going to put my belt up because you don't qualify for it, but you have one too. We're gonna fight for your belt Jorge. You're gonna put up the BMF, I'm not even gonna make a 170lbs, I'm gonna make a 175lbs and fight you for your belt."
According to Sonnen, Leon Edwards needs to distance himself from Kamaru Usman to remind people that he is the champion. Sonnen believes 'Rocky' should fight Masvidal for his BMF belt next and use that as a way to exact revenge, get a lot of coverage in the media and then face Usman in a trilogy bout.
Take a look at the video:
Chael Sonnen on whether Charles Oliveira has better striking than Islam Makhachev
Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev are gearing up to face each other in the UFC's return to fight island in Abu Dhabi. The pair will fight for the vacant lightweight title on October 22 at UFC 280.
Oliveira, still considered by many as the uncrowned champion, lost his belts on the scale in his previous title-defense against Justin Gaethje. Makhachev, on the other hand, gets his long awaited title shot.
Updated UFC 280 poster https://t.co/rpPykDojOR
Here's what Chael Sonnen had to say about who has the better stand-up game between the pair:
"We have seen Charles Oliveira knock people down and finish fights from his feet, we've also seen Charles knocked down and almost finished from his feet, I don't know what you want to do with that. I'm with Anthony [Smith], I am not counting out Charles anymore, I'm not."
Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev is the only fight that makes sense in the division currently, with Khabib Nurmagomedov's protege looking to bring the lightweight belt back to Dagestan. Both fighters are at their dominant best, riding two-digit win streaks.
Take a look at the video: