UFC Veteran Claims Ilia Topuria Was Forcefully Stripped Of The Belt, Not That He Vacated It
In the world of MMA, it’s not uncommon for champions to vacate their titles due to injuries, extended layoffs, or personal setbacks. However, it’s rare to see a reigning champion willingly give up their belt simply to move up a weight class. That’s what made the decision of Ilia Topuria so surprising. At a time when many fighters are chasing double-champ status, his choice to leave the featherweight title behind raised eyebrows across the sport.
Chael Sonnen fuels the speculation with a bold claim he says the UFC didn’t give Topuria a choice and forced him to relinquish the belt. In his recent video, Sonnen has questioned the official story surrounding Ilia Topuria’s title situation, suggesting it wasn’t a voluntary decision.
Sonnen challenges the public narrative, insisting that Topuria didn’t vacate the belt — the UFC stripped it from him. He argued that the organization may be using softer language to shape the story, but he’s not buying it insisting that Topuria didn’t step down willingly.
In his words, “I realized the official tale is to be told that Ilia vacated the title. If you look at what happened, Ilia was stripped. Now they will decide to go along and use the word ‘vacated’. But I’m not willing to play along — he didn’t vacate the belt; Ilia got stripped.”
Chael Sonnen Claims Ilia Was Stripped of the Belt, Not That He Vacated It. 😳
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) April 16, 2025
"I realized the official tale is to be told that Ilia vacated the title. If you look at what happened, Ilia was stripped. Now they will decide to go along and use the word 'vacated'. But I'm not… pic.twitter.com/41lWaV9WNm
Dana White Refutes Rumors Of Ilia Topuria Being Forced
UFC President denies claims that the promotion forced Ilia Topuria to vacate the title. He clarified that Topuria made the decision himself, feeling he had already achieved everything in the featherweight division. Rather than holding up the contenders waiting for their shot, Topuria chose to step aside and pursue bigger challenges at a higher weight. White backed the move, calling it a respectable and professional decision that keeps the division moving forward.
Now, all eyes are on when Topuria will get his shot at the lightweight title the very opportunity that motivated his move up. With the division stacked and title contenders lining up, it’ll be interesting to see how soon the UFC slots him into the championship picture. After willingly leaving his featherweight crown behind, the pressure is on to make that leap count.
Also Read: Ilia Topuria Details Reasons Why He Must Be Fighting Islam Makhachev At Lightweight
UFC Veteran Claims Ilia Topuria Was Forcefully Stripped Of The Belt, Not That He Vacated It
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