Latest news with #doublechamp
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Video: Ranking UFC's 10 two-division champions from best to worst
There aren't many truly exclusive clubs in the UFC after more than 30 years of existence, but the double champ club remains one of them. More than 100 different fighters have had a UFC title wrapped around their waist over the course of UFC history. That's difficult enough to do in itself, but the list gets significantly shaved down when separating those who went on to capture a belt in a second division. Advertisement Only Randy Couture, B.J. Penn, Conor McGregor, Amanda Nunes, Georges St-Pierre, Daniel Cormier, Henry Cejudo, Alex Pereira, Jon Jones and, most recently, Ilia Topuria, have budged their way into the two-division champion list, and each have forged their own path to getting there. After claiming two of those belts in a three-fight stretch with knockout of Alexander Volkanovski and Charles Oliveira, some have argued Topuria's rise and in-cage performances are the most impressive of the group. Others argue he still has more work to do to entrench himself in the position like others who defended titles in multiple divisions. It makes ranking the 10 double champions a tricky task, but that's what former UFC and Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez and MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn attempted to do. Check out "The Bohnfire" podcast in the video above where Alvarez and Bohn rank all the UFC two-division champions with their individual criteria. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Video: Ranking UFC's 10 two-division champions from best to worst
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Islam Makhachev Responds to Chael Sonnen After Criticism for Not Defending Title
Islam Makhachev is eyeing a new challenge—and a second belt. The reigning lightweight king has set his sights on welterweight gold in a bid to join the exclusive double champ club. While many see the move as bold, not everyone agrees it's the right play. And for the usually composed Makhachev, some recent criticism hit a nerve. UFC veteran and media personality Chael Sonnen didn't mince words on a recent Good Guy/Bad Guy segment with Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA. Weighing in on Makhachev's jump to welterweight, Sonnen framed the decision as a retreat rather than a bold career step. 'You have an undefeated, #1 ranked world champion who's chasing you down… You are so interested in getting away from this guy, that you leave your belt,' Sonnen claimed, referencing Ilia Topuria—who, while not officially ranked #1 at lightweight on paper, holds the featherweight title and is widely viewed as a top threat. Topuria has publicly stated that the UFC promised him a lightweight title shot—and in his words, they've kept that promise. Those comments clearly struck a chord. Makhachev fired back with a sharp message on social media: 'Chasing hype and money is not the same as chasing greatness in sport. But average athlete, who built his way to the top with cheap trash talk, won't understand that. So please seat and watch how others doing it, uncle Chael. #doublechamp' The debate over whether champions should defend or seek legacy-defining glory is hardly new. Some argue Makhachev owes the division a defense. Others say chasing a second title is the ultimate test of greatness, echoing moves made by Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, and Amanda Nunes. Islam MakhachevGetty Images And with Topuria emerging as a rising star and newly announced challenger in the lightweight mix, the spotlight on Makhachev's next move only intensifies. For now, Makhachev seems locked in—focused on making history, no matter who's talking. Advertisement Related: Dricus Du Plessis Sends Explicit Response to Contender Ahead of UFC 319 Related: Charles Oliveira Issues a Brutal Warning to Ilia Topuria Before UFC 317 Islam Makhachev Responds to Chael Sonnen After Criticism for Not Defending Title first appeared on Athlon Sports on May 22, 2025
