Islam Makhachev has been chosen as the preemptive winner of the upcoming UFC 311 lightweight title fight, and it was none other than Charles Oliveira who previewed him as the victor. ‘Do Bronx’ took part in a recent interview wherein he selected Makhachev.
The Brazilian, after all, has experience fighting against both Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan, the latter of whom he faced at UFC 300, losing via split-decision. Moreover, Oliveira believes that the first encounter between Makhachev and Tsarukyan was telling enough to predict a rematch.
Check out Charles Oliveira’s prediction for Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 2:
Here's my interview with @CharlesDoBronxs, who's next in line to face the winner of the #UFC311 fight between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan.
— Manouk Akopyan (@ManoukAkopyan) January 10, 2025
Oliveira reveals if he's the backup fighter and shares the keys to victory for the rematch.
🎥Watch:https://t.co/6aPgQICiB3 pic.twitter.com/TdEsJj6xaW
“It’s not even that I’m 50-50, you know? I just think that they’re both really great, amazing fighters and, you know, my point is that Islam has improved a lot in the standup. You know, you can look at their first fight and there’s a lot of grappling, but I feel like Islam has improved a lot in the standup so I feel like that can make a difference.”
Oliveira’s take is sensible. Makhachev did defeat Tsarukyan in their first encounter. Furthermore, the Dagestani star also defeated Oliveira more decisively than Tsarukyan did, outwrestling him and subsequently knocking him down en route to a dominant second-round submission win at UFC 280.
Meanwhile, Tsarukyan struggled to impose himself against Oliveira, even falling victim to a submission that could have ended the fight. In the end, though, he won via split-decision. The verdict, though, has been contested by some, who feel that Oliveira had done enough to be named the victor.