Chael Sonnen believes Ilia Topuria should be stripped of his UFC lightweight title.
Topuria (17–0 MMA, 9–0 UFC) vacated his featherweight title early last year to move up and challenge for the 155-pound belt. After knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June, he became the first fighter in promotional history to win titles in two weight classes while remaining undefeated.
“El Matador” was expected to make the first defense of his new title reign at UFC 324 in January, an event set to usher in the new Paramount era for the organization. However, he recently announced that he will be taking time away from competition to address personal matters.
As a result, Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett will meet for the interim lightweight title in the first main event of 2026, and Sonnen believes the circumstances surrounding Topuria’s hiatus may warrant stripping him of his status as the division’s undisputed champion.
"I'm going to dance, I'm going to do a little tiptoe, but I was at the Apex a week ago. I had a conversation with a very meaningful person in this industry, and that was the first person who ever suggested to me that Ilia be stripped," Sonnen said on The Ariel Helwani Show. "And I was a little surprised by it.
“Their argument, though, was that the interim belt is for those who are dealing with an illness or an injury. If we would like to show grace to an undisputed champion because he's missing matches specifically for illness or injury, and the moment Ilia informs us that he is missing matches for anything outside the criteria of illness or injury, that's when you strip him.
"I thought it was very cold, and I didn't like that. I thought about it, and there's actually a point to that. ... You've got to be stripped. I think that is a fair point. I don't want him stripped. I'm on Ilia's side of this. I don't really like what he's going through.
“I also think he's innocent. He seems like a really good guy. I don't think he would have done these things. However, they've got to strip him. If he's not making the claim that he's injured and has some kind of a doctor's report to back it up, as bogus as those can be, he's got to be stripped."
