The title unification bout between UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones and interim title holder Tom Aspinall is without doubt one of the most extremely anticipated matchups of 2025. Whereas many followers consider that the struggle between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria may obtain comparable industrial success, former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen has expressed a unique opinion.
In a latest Instagram submit, the previous UFC two-weight title challenger and analyst shared his ideas on the topic. He concluded that underneath the present circumstances, the struggle between Makhachev and Topuria can not match the scale and significance of the Jones vs. Aspinall showdown.
“Ilia vs. Islam proper now, and I do know there are some n** huggers on the market that simply assume that is the most important struggle, it isn’t! The most important struggle of 2025 will likely be Jones vs. Aspinall. So some other struggle that you just’re doing, you want to beat that struggle. There is not any motive to make a struggle if it will probably’t be primary.”
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Though there’s appreciable fan curiosity in Jones vs. Aspinall, the struggle has not materialized to date. Whereas Jones has modified his stance on dealing with Aspinall a number of instances, UFC boss Dana White reiterated that the struggle will finally happen. That stated, the negotiations haven’t reached to a stage the place the promotion can announce the date.
In the meantime, Topuria lately vacated the featherweight title to kick off his light-weight title run. Nonetheless, Makhachev has reportedly refused to offer him a direct title shot at 155 kilos.
Chael Sonnen explains how UFC can elevate Islam Makhachev’s subsequent struggle to stage of Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall
Ilia Topuria and former light-weight champion Charles Oliveira have been campaigning for a title shot in opposition to Islam Makhachev. Nonetheless, Chael Sonnen thinks that the UFC will be capable to promote their potential fights in opposition to Makhachev quite a bit simpler in the event that they have been to face one another.
Within the aforementioned video, Sonnen defined:
“You’d have a respectable shot of beating the night time of enterprise, Aspinall-Jones, if you happen to acquired Topuria one struggle first. To not point out, there is just one dude on the earth, and he sits on the struggle island and needs to see Oliveira struggle Islam. Actually, no one desires that struggle. However it could be actually totally different if Charles was to beat Ilia Topuria first. It might be a really totally different providing.”
Whereas Makhachev has not commented on his potential subsequent opponents lately, Topuria and Oliveira have been embroiled in a web based rivalry.
Edited by Rajneesh Suhas Reddy