“He Is Correct Sadly”- Bold Claim on Khamzat Chimaev vs. Paulo Costa Fight After Sean Strickland’s Upset Over Israel Adesanya Has Fans Predict Worrying Outcomes for Former UFC Champ

The aftermath of UFC 293 keeps adding to the drama around UFC’s Middleweight division. After Sean Strickland pulled off a significant upset by defeating former champ Israel Adesanya to claim the title, the MMA world is buzzing with discussions about the division’s future. Among those sharing their opinions, UFC analyst and veteran Chael Sonnen has made some striking claims about what might come next.

One of the most pressing questions after Strickland’s victory is whether there should be an immediate rematch between him and Adesanya. Ariel Helwani posed this question to Sonnen during an interview on The MMA Hour, and Sonnen seemed to agree with the idea. What’s more – he also made some bold proclamations about ‘Tarzan’s next potential fight, while side-stepping UFC Middleweight star Dricus Du Plessis. So, what’s he saying?

Chael Sonnen makes a surprising revelation in the aftermath of UFC 293

MMA journalist Ariel Helwani recently hosted Chael Sonnen for an interview on The MMA Hour. During their discussion, Sonnen made some intriguing arguments about the potential narrative of the Middleweight division. Replying to Helwani’s question about the idea of a rematch between ‘Izzy’ and ‘Tarzan,’ he asserted, “I’m doing an immediate rematch! For sure – the bigger thing lost there [is] getting these two back together. I’m sure they did a fine piece of business.”

Sonnen believes that not only did the initial fight likely generate significant interest, but the sequel would likely do even better business, as sequels often do. However, what grabbed the attention of fans even more was Sonnen’s prediction: “Chimaev vs Paulo Costa just became the number one contender match.” 

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Originally, it was deemed a number one contender match for Khamzat Chimaev, should he win. However, the situation has evolved. Sonnen explained, “It wasn’t originally! It was a number one contender’s match for Chimaev, if Chimaev wins. And then we’re going to yank that rug and reveal right after this fight – in case Paulo Costa won.”

What’s more – now, with a new champion at the top, a matchup between Strickland and Paulo Costa would make sense as a number-one contender’s match. Furthermore, he mentions that Strickland and Chimaev trained together, making a fight between them equally intriguing. In Sonnen’s vision, Dricus Du Plessis might be overlooked yet again.

Fans in splits over Chael Sonnen’s predictions for UFC’s Middleweight division

As with any bold prediction, fans had varying reactions. Many fans agreed with Sonnen’s assessment, seeing merit in the idea of Chimaev vs. Costa as a number one contender’s match. But others expressed doubt, emphasizing that Dricus Du Plessis should not be underestimated and deserves a title shot. Here’s a glimpse of the brewing opinions among fans:

More and more fans seemed to echo the MMA veteran’s prediction, adding,

Yet another fan’s response shows agreement with Chael Sonnen’s viewpoint:

However, there was an MMA netizen who seemed to have a different idea. He wrote:

What’s more – some fans chimed in with some amusing suggestions, remarking,

The MMA community remains divided on whether an immediate rematch between Strickland and Adesanya is the right move or if the division should explore other exciting matchups. As the dust settles from UFC 293, the Middleweight division’s future remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: it’s a topic that continues to captivate the imagination of fight fans worldwide. So, what do you think? Do you agree with Sonnen’s assessment of the Middleweight division? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

Watch this story: Is the Khamzat Chimaev vs Paulo Costa Fight Happening on UFC 294?