Chael Sonnen has a prediction for the next move among the UFC welterweight elite, and it surprisingly excludes Colby Covington. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Sonnen described the notion of Colby fighting surging fan favorite Khamzat Chimaev as “an insult”, insisting that the fight to make for Khamzat is Belal Muhammad.
“I don’t think they have that match. I don’t think they’ve ever had that match. I don’t even think they’ve spoken to Colby about the match.
Chael Sonnen: Belal Gets Khamzat Fight, Not Colby
Dana just said, ‘This is the direction we’re going.’ It was meant to be a compliment to Colby. Dana was trying to say, ‘Covington, who’s a star, I’m going to take my star and I’m gonna put him in the main event. Whoever wins between Burns and Chimaev is going to feed into that main event.’
It was meant to be something very sweet for Colby. I was just predicting, much like Belal, that’s not how Colby’s hearing it. That’s not how Colby wants to get this done.
I also wasn’t sold on the idea that the organization was willing to make that a number one contender’s match. My gut feeling is that the organization would lean towards the idea that if Chimaev wins, Chimaev would fight for the championship.
Knowing Colby the way I do, that’s going to insult him, and it’s just not going to work. I never talked to Colby, this is me speaking.”
Sonnen continued, pointing out that with Covington unlikely to accept anything other than a third shot at Kamaru Usman, Belal Muhammed called Khamzat out, opening the door for Colby to take on Gilbert Burns.
“In his last moments on the worldwide leader, with the biggest audience he’s going to have, that he wants to influence, [Muhammad] inserts himself in a fight that’s already done. That’s what we were led to believe.
Now, all of a sudden, Belal came out… He just came out and said, ‘I think I’m going to be fighting Chimaev next. I don’t think Colby is going to do that match.’ I think he’s right. I think Belal is going to get that fight.
And now, all of a sudden, it does become a number one contender’s match for both guys. As much as you would like to see Chimaev vs. Colby.
If it becomes Chimaev vs. Muhammad, that means it’s gonna become Colby vs. Burns. You got any problem with those matchups?” Would you rather see Colby fight Khamzat or Gilbert Burns? Let us know in the comments.
