Islam Makhachev has a strong wish- to step inside the Octagon against Charles Oliveira, and finish the fight on the canvas- true to his Dagestani background.
Charles Oliveira might have been stripped of the UFC Lightweight title, but the Brazilian is still one of the best 155-pounder in the world and is one of those who has been placed on everyone’s wishlist.
“Do Bronx” was stripped of the belt after failing to make weight prior to his UFC 274 main event clash against Justin Gaethje, making only the latter eligible to win the title. However, it was Oliveira who emerged victorious, via executing a a first round rear naked choke on Gaethje.
10-win streak vs. 11-win streak. It’s a very big fight: Islam Makhachev wants 155-pound title fight against Oliveira
With the Lightweight title currently sitting vacant, there will be contenders picked to fight for the 155-pound crown, and Islam Makhachev hopes it’s him against none other than Oliveira, citing that both of them have remarkable win streaks.
“The UFC said we have to find some contender, but this is not a contender match. We don’t have a champion. Charles is a contender, too. I hope I deserve it because I have a 10-fight win streak, and I’m ready. This is my time now,” Makhachev said in an interview with ESPN, “Who’s gonna fight with Oliveira now? We don’t have nobody. Who? Gaethje, Tony, or Poirier? Chandler? Who next for Oliveira?”
Oliveira, who has plans of returning in December, has named Conor McGregor or Nate Diaz in his comeback fight, and Makhachev believes it should be him over the other two and even plans to submit him on the canvas.
“If Charles says I’m not ready or something, or he says Islam doesn’t deserve, but he asked to fight Nate Diaz or Conor. I want to ask him, ‘Hey, these guys deserve (it) who you call all the time?’ I don’t know,” the Russian went on, “They have to make me vs. Charles, 10-win streak vs. 11-win streak. It’s a very big fight.”
“Someone or Nate Diaz or Conor say let’s do in September. He’s gonna fight in September, too. He just run because he knows his grappling or other skills aren’t gonna work with me. He beat all striking guys like Poirier or Chandler or all these guys, they have good striking. But when they drop him down, nobody goes to the grappling with him. Nobody holds him there, but we know when someone gives him a hard time he always gives up. I’m gonna take him down, make him tired, and he’s gonna give up like he did 10 times in the UFC,” Makhachev added. [H/T MMA Junkie]
Do you want to see Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev fight for the vacant Lightweight title? Let us know in the comment section below.
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