Chael Sonnen steps up and defends former UFC champion after title fight announcement

Chael Sonnen He is a former fighter and current commentator. (Photo: Reproduction/Facebook @bellatormma)

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A confirmation of the rematch between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis No. UFC 312 divided opinions in the MMA world. Many fans expected the chance to fight for the middleweight title (up to 83,9 kg) to go to Khamzat Shimaev, following their emphatic dominant victory over Robert whittaker. The former fighter and current commentator, Chael Sonnen, thinks the choice made by the UFC is fair.

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In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Sonnen refuted all allegations that Strickland was getting an undeserved shot. The former fighter argues that Sean does deserve the title shot and emphasizes that the challenger earned his position on merit. While acknowledging that Chimaev is also a legitimate contender, the commentator criticizes the idea that Strickland should be grateful to the organization and claims that he did not get anything for free.

“What do I think about this? That’s a great question to ask myself six months ago, when Sean Strickland “He defeated Paulo Costa in five consecutive rounds and became the number one contender. Do I think Chimaev should be next? Yes, with the information I have right now. But I’ll get new information that I’d like to process the night Strickland and Du Plessis fight. And not for nothing, if Strickland beats him, we’re going to have to get into a trilogy fight. The idea that Sean should be happy, ‘Thank you to Twitter for this, thank you to Dana White and Hunter Campbell.’ Screw them, three times. He earned it. Strickland has gotten absolutely nothing since he got here, and the only things he has are the ones he took,” Sonnen said.

Dricus Du Plessis (left) and Sean Strickland (dir.) fighting in UFC 297. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

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Strickland and Du Plessis will headline the UFC 312 in Sydney, 13 months after the fighters' clash in January. The South African returns to the country where he made his first successful defense of the belt against Israel adesanya.