UFC lightweight title hopeful Islam Makhachev has a promise for his UFC 280 clash with former (or current, depending on who you ask) champion Charles Oliveira. It will be, he told ESPN, like “irons touch together. Sparks, you know?” He acknowledged that Oliveira is a fierce competitor and a lethal finisher, so Islam Makhachev is taking this matchup very seriously indeed.
“If Charles gonna come to Abu Dhabi in very good shape, it’s gonna be like irons touch together. Sparks, you know? When I touch Charles it’s going to be always sparks — if he come in very good shape.
Makhachev Promises “Sparks” Against Oliveira: “Gonna Be Like Irons Touch Together”
I’m gonna dominate him or it’s gonna be not an easy fight because this guy champion, this guy have good skills. Grappling skills, striking skills, it’s going to be very good fight. I’m ready for — doesn’t matter how many rounds it’s gonna be, where it’s gonna be — striking or grappling or wrestling match. I’m gonna be ready everywhere. This is my goal, this is my dream. That’s why I’m gonna train so hard and I’m gonna come to Abu Dhabi in very good shape.”
Makhachev also offered his take on another title fight. UFC 278 saw Leon Edwards win the last-minute upset of the year when he knocked pound-for-pound no.1 and welterweight champion Kamaru Usman out in the final minute of their fight. Makhachev believes Edwards got “lucky” and won’t be able to repeat the feat when the inevitable rematch is booked.
“Edwards [got] lucky because he [Usman] beat him all five rounds, almost. First round, he [Edwards] take him down, take his back, but other rounds [Usman] beat him very easy, take him down many times and smashed him there. When they’re going to fight again in rematch, 100 percent I think Kamaru is going to beat him.
Edwards have same problem, always with wrestling guys.” Islam Makhachev has long been touted by his mentor, former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, as a future champ. Makhachev’s surge through the UFC lightweight division has been buoyed by Nurmagomedov’s support and his own habit of finishing fights early with his signature mauling style.
Makhachev and Oliveira share a penchant for finishing fights, whether by strikes or via submission, and both are very dangerous on the ground. Their title fight is as close to a Brazilian jiu-jitsu vs Russian sambo event as MMA fans are likely to ever see, and both sides are promising a clash to remember.
What’s your prediction for Makhachev vs Oliveira? Let us know in the comments.
