UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov s father and coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov R and Russian mixed martial artist Islam Makhachev attend the UFC Fight Night 163 mixed martial arts event, at CSKA Arena. Valery Sharifulin/TASS PUBLICATIONxINxGERxAUTxONLY TS0C25E2
Islam Makhachev chuckles at Demian Maia and his prediction for a fight between Charles Oliveira and him
Talks of a fight between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira are beginning to intensify, and the entire MMA community is weighing in on the match-up. The grappling community in particular is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed regarding the narrative leading up to the fight- Sambo vs Jiu-Jitsu. Several fighters have voiced their stance on the fight, Demain Maia being the latest entrant in this conversation.
Maia, a grappling grandmaster and doyen himself, believes that Oliveira has the perfect style to beat someone like Makhachev. He believes that in order to beat a high-level dominant wrestler like the Dagestani, it is important to have a solid guard off your back. Oliveira is an elite grappler himself, and has one of the most offensive, dangerous guards in the game today. Even when he gets dropped, fighters are hesitant to approach him on the mats when he pulls guard.
“If there’s a man to beat that type of fighter, it’s Charles, because Charles has [a good] guard [game],” stated Maia. “You have to have [a good] guard to beat someone like that, enough guard to at least survive but also be offensive, to be dangerous there. Charles has that. Charles is a dangerous fight for that type of fighter. Not to mention he’s dangerous as hell on the feet”. Maia said.
Demian used his fight against former One Championship and Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren as an example: “It’s kind of the same strategy when I fought Ben Askren.
“I was taken down and was working right away. You can go for a sweep or a submission during the takedown. Not that you can’t be off your back, but you don’t wanna be there early, when you opponent has too much energy to hold you and steal rounds.”
“I had this drill back when I fought Ben Askren, he’d take me down and I would go for the ankle, a triangle, a sweep, you know? I still do these drills to this day. But I think you have to be the type of fighter Charles is to be someone like that.
If you don’t have jiu-jitsu, you don’t beat these guys”. concluded Maia.
Maia, however, said “I would put [my money]” on Oliveira to win if he gets paired up against Makhachev next.
“I’m not a betting guy, but I would,” Maia said. It would be an interesting match for all martial arts fans, especially considering that Makhachev and Oliveira are the two best fighters in the category.
Makhachev reacted to this on Twitter by reminding that someone in the past lost their house when they bet against him when he fought Dan Hooker. He wrote, ‘ I remember the guy who bet his house and lost in my fight vs Hooker. Don’t do the same mistake @demianmaia save your money 😁’
Islam Makhachev is the dark horse of the lightweight division with a nine-fight win streak. Although he does not possess the finish rate that Charles does, he still remains dominant in his fights, and maintains composure of the highest degree, something which will come in handy if he faces the Brazilian.
UFC president Dana White was miffed that Makhachev refused to step in as a last-minute replacement to face Rafael Dos Anjos, and wants to book his originally scheduled fight against Beneil Dariush again. Oliveira on the other hand has been calling out for a fight against Conor Macgregor or Nate Diaz, completely snubbing Makhachev claiming that he hasn’t fought the best in the division.
Makhachev sat down with ESPN correspondent Brett Okamoto, and discussed about his future plans, Oliveira’s streak, and how he has had a hard time finding fights with guys ducking him. Okamoto brought up an interesting question asking Makhachev how many times would Charles submit him if they fought a hundred times. Makhachev replied by saying, ‘Hey brother, honestly I’ve grappled with many black belts, very high level jiu-jitsu guys, but I can’t remember the last time when somebody give me submission. I’ve grappled with ADCC champions, I don’t wanna name them, but they know my grappling skills. And this people know Oliveira can never submit me’
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