Chael Sonnen & Ariel Helwani Debate UFC Welterweight Title Picture

Chael Sonnen and Ariel Helwani disagree over the next UFC welterweight title contender.

(via Melissa Rawlins/ESPN Images)

Chael Sonnen and Ariel Helwani aren't on the same page as far as what the next UFC Welterweight Championship fight should be.

The reigning 170-pound titleholder, Leon Edwards, is expected to put his gold on the line against Colby Covington. UFC President Dana White has insisted that Covington will get the next crack at Edwards, but Belal Muhammad also waits in the wings. Muhammad defeated Gilbert Burns at UFC 288, and White has confirmed that "Remember The Name" will get the winner of Edwards vs. Covington.

Many within the MMA community have argued that Muhammad is more deserving of the next UFC title shot at 170 pounds than Covington. The big argument against Covington is the fact that he hasn't fought since March 2022 and has gone 2-2 in his last four outings. Muhammad has gone 9-0, 1 NC in his last 10 fights.

Sonnen had a discussion with Helwani on MMAFighting's "The MMA Hour" about the situation at 170 pounds. Helwani pleaded the case for Belal, saying that he can't understand how anyone can think that Covington is more deserving of a title shot.

READ MORE: Colby Covington Says 'Racist' Belal Muhammad Won't Get UFC Title Shot Next

Ariel tells Chael that the Belal vs Burns fight should have been for the next shot at Leon’s belt.

“I just don’t know how you can sit here with a straight face and say Colby Covington, who hasn’t fought since March of 2022, deserves the title shot.”@arielhelwani / #TheMMAHour pic.twitter.com/1I7bzgEr4W

— AFeldmanMMA (@afeldMMA) May 10, 2023

Sonnen responded, bringing up a claim made by Dana White to explain why Covington has been inactive.

"If you're talking about Colby and how active that he has been, Dana White came out, he revealed to us that they've offered him a total of three fights and he has accepted, but the other people have not accepted. I think that matters, I mean, if a guy won't walk out there and do it with you or not, I think that you gotta get credit for it. This was still the top guy. Colby didn't have any problems with anybody not named Kamaru Usman. He shows Kamaru that respect, but Colby's next. I'm surprised to hear you deny that."

Helwani wasn't exactly buying that claim, and couldn't bring himself to agree with Sonnen.

"It's one of the craziest things and it has nothing to do with my feelings towards him [Colby Covington]," Helwani said. "No issues, but the guy hasn't fought in 15 months now. I mean, it's crazy."

READ MORE: Belal Muhammad Confirms Injury Rumors After UFC 288 Win Over Gilbert Burns

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