Ilia Topuria may have entered the biggest fight of his career facing challenges that most fans never saw. In this breakdown, Chael Sonnen explains why Topuria's recent circumstances made an already difficult championship fight even tougher. Between significant time away from competition, major personal issues, and the demands that come with being one of the UFC's biggest stars, Chael believes Ilia was placed in an extraordinarily difficult position. Chael points out that Topuria's activity level has been limited, with relatively few cage appearances over the last several years. Then came the pressure of competing in a five-round main event in front of a massive audience. According to Chael, none of this should be viewed as an excuse. Instead, it's an honest look at the realities fighters face when life outside the cage affects preparation inside it. The recovery process may be just as challenging. Chael discusses the possibility of medical evaluations, healing from fight-related inj