MMA analyst Chael Sonnen refuses to join the debate over Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena’s striking skills.
Later this year at UFC 322, Maddalena will defend his welterweight crown against lightweight champion Makhachev. Many predict a clash between Maddalena’s sharp standup and Makhachev’s dominance on the ground. Analysts frame striking as the decisive factor.
Sonnen thinks otherwise. He recently argued that the fight won’t be settled by striking exchanges.
The myth of better standup
Sonnen dismissed comparisons about who lands cleaner or harder on the feet.
“With four-ounce gloves, who cares who’s better?” he said. “Would you rather hit harder, or take hits better?”
He argued that it isn’t the takedown itself but the threat of it that shifts the standup battle.
Fear of the takedown changes everything
Sonnen pointed out examples of decorated kickboxers failing in MMA. Many lost early, sometimes knocked out despite being elite strikers.
“It’s not because their opponent was better in striking,” he said. “It’s because they feared the takedown. That fear changed their offense, defense, and posture.”
He insisted the psychological pressure of grappling reshapes every exchange on the feet.
Why MMA striking looks messy
Sonnen explained that striking in MMA often appears sloppy compared to boxing. The difference comes from the rule set.
“What works in MMA would be illegal in boxing,” he argued. “And with four-ounce gloves, you don’t need five punches. You just need one. If the opponent can’t absorb it, that one is enough.”
He said knockouts often look unrefined, but effectiveness beats elegance inside the cage.
Control decides the fight
For Sonnen, the formula for victory hasn’t changed since the early days of MMA.
“The champion is always the one who decides where the fight happens. On the feet or on the ground,” he said.
To him, talk of who is “better in standup” misses the essence of the sport.
