On October 22, the main event Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev will face off for the vacant UFC lightweight title. The fight will take place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Main event fighter Oliveira hopes to take home his lightweight title, after losing on the scale against Justin Gaethje at UFC 274. Oliveira later defeated Gaethje with a first-round submission.
Islam Makhachev is currently on a 10-fight winning streak and he carries with him the No. 3 position in the MMA Fighting Global Lightweight Rankings.
Charles Oliveira‘s position as the best lightweight fighter in the UFC appears to be in danger with the dominant Islam Makhachev challenging him at UFC 280.
Many believe that Makhachev will win, but Khamzat Chimaev’s coach Alan Finfou strongly believes the opposite will happen.
Finfou sides with his compatriot in the much-anticipated lightweight title fight that headlines UFC 280. In an interview with Portale do Vale Tudo, he said:
“He is the guy who can submit anyone in this division. I can’t see any opponents that can surprise Charles on the ground… Makhachev, he never fought a guy like Charles. Everyone get’s too focused on Charles’ ground game but forget that Charles’ striking is also very good.”
Chimaev’s coach makes two very pertinent points. Islam Makhachev has not faced an opponent like Oliveira, and ‘do Bronx’ has won nine fights via knockout. Makhachev, by contrast, has won only four fights via knockout. The coach went on to say:
“And Makhachev was knocked out once by Adriano Martins, a Brazilian guy from Manaus who was in the UFC, that was Makhachev’s only defeat.”
Finfou strongly believes that ‘do Bronx’ will either finish the fight by getting onto Makhachev’s back and submitting him in a “highlight” moment or via knockout.
Catch the interview below (English subtitles by Brazilian MMA Fighters):