News *** Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev MEGA THREAD PART II (OFFICIAL FOR UFC 280, 10/22) ***

[FloydMayweatherMMA]

Islam will be easy to beat, just have to KO him before he takes you down or submit him after he takes you down. Just like how you beat Khabib!

We've seen Islam get sent to the shadow realm though. Nobody did that to Khabib.

 

[RoyJonesJr]

Not gonna lie, as an Oliveira fan, Islam has me worried.

He's really good and I think some fans are underestimating him.

Because all the caucus fighters train so hard and they all spar each other

Its like Cain training with DC except Islam has Khabib, Usman, and 30 unknown guys that could be top 10 right now if they entered the UFC as his sparring partners

You get so many looks its insane

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

Islam will be easy to beat, just have to KO him before he takes you down or submit him after he takes you down. Just like how you beat Khabib!

except Khabib had never been KO'd and barely been rocked. Islam has.

 

[chimpoehurricane]

Islam Makhachev shared his expectations ahead of UFC 280 match with Charles Oliveira:

"Oliveira improved his standup striking. He used to use jiu jitsu only and now he became very good at standup striking too, but I am sparring Usman (Nurmagomedov) & Sharip Zaynukov. These guys came from Muay Thai.

I'll have to make Oliveira feel uncomfortable. All of his losses happened when he got drawn into a deep waters, when heart rate is over 200.

But his current win streak... there weren't any tough fights there, he could just take down & easily control his opponents. There wasn't anyone who could wrestle with him or compete in grappling.

For comparison, Tony Ferguson had a good BJJ & he could last with Oliveira all 5 rounds. Oliveira couldn't finish or submit him."


Tranlslation of Islam Makhachev's interview from russian sport news site: https://www.sports.ru/boxing/111231...se-ego-porazheniya-v-ufc-eto-kogda-on-ux.html

I can't wait for the Olie to shut his lights off.

Let's KO!

 

[Tweak896]

We've seen Islam get sent to the shadow realm though. Nobody did that to Khabib.

How many fights ago and what year? You're saying like it's a frequent weakness. That's like saying Serra took out GSP, so just do that gameplan.

 

[Joshuaace]

"Oliveira improved his standup striking. He used to use jiu jitsu only and now he became very good at standup striking too, but I am sparring Usman (Nurmagomedov) & Sharip Zaynukov. These guys came from Muay Thai."

This is just a terrible take. Ollie came in to the UFC as a very well rounded fighter with very capable striking skills. In his debut Elkins put him on his back quickly and got subbed for it so he didn't get a chance to show anything but bjj. His second fight in the UFC against Escudero he had an opportunity to showcase a wide variety of the skills he had already developed as a 20yo. "BJJ only", looks like Royce, Demian Maia, young Werdum..........Charles Oliveira was never that 1 dimensional.

Maybe Islam is suggesting Charles used to be a 1 trick pony to help him cope with the lack of variety in his own game.

"But his current win streak... there weren't any tough fights there, he could just take down & easily control his opponents. There wasn't anyone who could wrestle with him or compete in grappling."

Pot something something kettle.

 

[Chipper55]

Not gonna lie, as an Oliveira fan, Islam has me worried.

He's really good and I think some fans are underestimating him.

I'm an Olives fan through and through, but I don't like this matchup for both fighters. Charles is confident and has looked like a straight killer, and if he's a motivated fighter, that's going to really make Islam's job much harder to do. However, Islam's wrestling and grappling cause much concern for Charles. Islam's not Khabib, but his grappling and wrestling are pretty damn close to what Khabib's level was at. Islam has the ability to completely negate all of Charles's grappling and wrestling with his TDD and his defense, but the one weakness that Islam has is his confidence and the competition he's faced so far. He hasn't faced quality competition yet and that concerns me because Charles is such a step up in the level of competition. Also, Islam's confidence is sometimes lacking not in the fights with Hooker or Green but with guys like Moises who present more of a threat he was more cautious. However, I think his confidence has grown, and he was just worried about his first time fighting in a 5-Round Main event. However, that's still a concern. He has to believe in his abilities if he wants to beat Charles. Also, I don't care if Islam has been training with Muay Thai guys. Islam has only looked explosive during his takedowns not his striking, which is where Charles has an advantage. Also, how will Islam react to a fighter who isn't afraid of getting taken down by him? And what will happen if Charles makes Islam back up against the cage and fight off his back foot? It'll be a great fight. I hope it lasts five rounds and is not a one-round fight.

 

[Steve Fox]

Or is just dishonest like all Islam/Khabib fanatics. Nothing new.

This.

Dagestani fanatics are even worst than Conor nuthuggers, at least with the latter we can laugh a bit.

 

[MMAProfessional]

Not gonna lie, as an Oliveira fan, Islam has me worried.

He's really good and I think some fans are underestimating him.

I don't think anyone is underestimating Islam. I have Islam winning but I've had Oliveira losing in every title fight and hasn't so there's that. I'm not falling into the club, "I've bet against him in his last 10000 fights but I can't anymore" like the media shills. I hope he proves me wrong but I doubt it in this one. I see Oliveira getting taken down, the commentating being in the line of how good Oliveira is off his back then Islam doing what he's done to everyone but we'll see.

 

[nintey]

Olivera has really impressed me with his will power change. He used to wilt so easily, I've never seen a fighter get mentally tougher like he has. I keep thinking he still has that quit in him but I hope he keeps proving me wrong because he is a much more exciting champ to have.

 

[Lee_]

If we are going to be reasonable and so old fights are old fights, MMAth doesn't work, and fighters do improve, than OK. We don't talk about old meaningless fights. If we are going to act like Duncey blonds (like Islam is acting) and talk about old fights, then Islam has no chance as Charles will knock his block off just like Martins did. He showed he can't take a punch.

You can't have it both ways. These are stupid conversations.

 

[King in the North]

I hope I’m wrong but I think Islam obliterates him. Not even going to be competitive.

 

[Mr Fahrenheit]

Islam Makhachev shared his expectations ahead of UFC 280 match with Charles Oliveira:

"Oliveira improved his standup striking. He used to use jiu jitsu only and now he became very good at standup striking too, but I am sparring Usman (Nurmagomedov) & Sharip Zaynukov. These guys came from Muay Thai.

I'll have to make Oliveira feel uncomfortable. All of his losses happened when he got drawn into a deep waters, when heart rate is over 200.

But his current win streak... there weren't any tough fights there, he could just take down & easily control his opponents. There wasn't anyone who could wrestle with him or compete in grappling.

For comparison, Tony Ferguson had a good BJJ & he could last with Oliveira all 5 rounds. Oliveira couldn't finish or submit him."


Tranlslation of Islam Makhachev's interview from russian sport news site: https://www.sports.ru/boxing/111231...se-ego-porazheniya-v-ufc-eto-kogda-on-ux.html

Yes we get it, you’re planning to lay on him.

 

[Mr Fahrenheit]

I hope I’m wrong but I think Islam obliterates him. Not even going to be competitive.

Definitely possible. They’ll go for the Khabib-Conor gameplan — stop anything fun or interesting from happening until he’s exhausted, then start fighting.

 

[Safton]

Islam's going to win, man. It is what it is.

I'm not as confident as you are that it's so cut-and-dry. We'll certainly find out soon enough one way or another. Has all the makings of an exciting fight regardless.

 

[Reign009]

I don't think anyone is underestimating Islam. I have Islam winning but I've had Oliveira losing in every title fight and hasn't so there's that. I'm not falling into the club, "I've bet against him in his last 10000 fights but I can't anymore" like the media shills. I hope he proves me wrong but I doubt it in this one. I see Oliveira getting taken down, the commentating being in the line of how good Oliveira is off his back then Islam doing what he's done to everyone but we'll see.

This is where you're wrong. You may not be underestimating Islam, but there definitely are some fans that are.

 

[Reign009]

I'm an Olives fan through and through, but I don't like this matchup for both fighters. Charles is confident and has looked like a straight killer, and if he's a motivated fighter, that's going to really make Islam's job much harder to do. However, Islam's wrestling and grappling cause much concern for Charles. Islam's not Khabib, but his grappling and wrestling are pretty damn close to what Khabib's level was at. Islam has the ability to completely negate all of Charles's grappling and wrestling with his TDD and his defense, but the one weakness that Islam has is his confidence and the competition he's faced so far. He hasn't faced quality competition yet and that concerns me because Charles is such a step up in the level of competition. Also, Islam's confidence is sometimes lacking not in the fights with Hooker or Green but with guys like Moises who present more of a threat he was more cautious. However, I think his confidence has grown, and he was just worried about his first time fighting in a 5-Round Main event. However, that's still a concern. He has to believe in his abilities if he wants to beat Charles. Also, I don't care if Islam has been training with Muay Thai guys. Islam has only looked explosive during his takedowns not his striking, which is where Charles has an advantage. Also, how will Islam react to a fighter who isn't afraid of getting taken down by him? And what will happen if Charles makes Islam back up against the cage and fight off his back foot? It'll be a great fight. I hope it lasts five rounds and is not a one-round fight.

Some points I agree with, some not so much.

I don't think Islam has a confidence issue, if anything he may be too confident, not the other way around.

Also, despite the KO loss a long time ago, Islam looks comfortable on his feet. It's usually Khabib and Javier that are screaming at him to take his opponent down. If it were up to Islam, he'd do a little more striking, but Khabib and Javier don't wanna risk it.

 

[dildos]

Islam can’t even make it out passed round 1 vs Brazilian bbj black belts.

 

[GordoBarraBJJ]

And those were ages ago - he's been in deep and drowned the best of the division each time. The one time islam got put in deep waters he immediately was drowned.

 

[UFCIsNOTRigged]

Some points I agree with, some not so much.

I don't think Islam has a confidence issue, if anything he may be too confident, not the other way around.

Also, despite the KO loss a long time ago, Islam looks comfortable on his feet. It's usually Khabib and Javier that are screaming at him to take his opponent down. If it were up to Islam, he'd do a little more striking, but Khabib and Javier don't wanna risk it.

I noticed the same thing.

Makhachev seems to really like to strike, has picture perfect technique, yet his team (Javier/Khabib) are always insistent that he immediately take his opponent down.

The only reason I can think of for this is Makhachev having very poor punch resistance. Something that was somewhat confirmed for me when Davi Ramos's jab nearly sent him crashing to the canvas.