The lightweight division in the UFC is one of the most loaded ones. Islam Makhachev is currently at the top of the division and the pound-for-pound rankings. He has already defended his belt twice in the octagon. In the main event of UFC 302, Makhachev is set to defend his belt for the third time in the company.
Former Lightweight champion Charles Oliveira has now given his take on what he thinks will happen when Islam clashes with the title contenders shortly. Notably, Oliveira had suffered a defeat against Islam in 2022.
“There are no aspects in which Islam lags behind”- Charles Oliveira
Charles Oliveira is one of the longest-tenured fighters in the company and holds the record for the maximum number of submissions in the cage. Oliveira lost his fight against Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of UFC 300 after a close three rounds. Recently, the Brazilian grappling expert has been keeping close tabs on the top of the division and gave his take on what he thinks will happen soon. Oliveira said,
Islam doesn’t just hold his own against [Dustin]. If he doesn’t engage recklessly, Islam surpasses him. Even if you put wrestling aside, in my opinion, Islam can outbox him in pure boxing and in Muay Thai. There are no aspects in which Islam lags behind.
Charles clarified that Islam would beat Dustin and the other contenders, like Arman Tsarukyan when he met them in the middle of the cage. There is no realm of fighting in which Makhachev is worse than his opponent in the cage. He is set to take on Poirier later this weekend, and Oliveira claims that Islam will justify the odds comfortably in the cage.
Makhachev will have UFC Legend Khabib Nurmagomedov in his corner for the fight against the Lousiana native. He will want to pick Khabib’s mind on how to put aside Dustin, as the Eagle finished Poirier in the fourth round in the cage a couple of years back.
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Charles Oliveira is still one of the world’s top-ranked Lightweights and might get back in title contention with a victory in his next fight. It will be interesting to see what happens in the Lightweight division shortly.
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