Here comes the heat!
On Saturday at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi, a large number of Russian fighters will step into the octagon, but special attention is being paid to two fights on the main card. The vacant UFC lightweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Brazilian Charles Oliveira will lead the show, and in the tournament’s third most important event in the cage, the No. 1 in the bantamweight rankings of the UFC, Petr Yan, will face the American Sean O’Malley.
To the credit of the fourth number of the UFC, Makhachev has 22 victories including a defeat in MMA, in the promotion, the Russian fighter continues on a series of ten victories in a row. Oliveira has 33 wins and eight losses. Oliveira took over the UFC lightweight belt after the departure of Khabib Nurmagomedov, managed to defend against Dustin Poirier, and before the fight with Justin Gati failed to reach the weight class. As a result, the belt was taken away from Oliveira, but the Brazilian still beat Khabib’s latest opponent.
Yan spent 19 fights in his career, won 16 wins with three losses. The Russian is a former UFC bantamweight champion. The fight with O’Malley will be the first for him since a failed rematch with Aljamain Sterling. Also, for the first time in a long time, Jan will have a three-round fight, not five. O’Malley in MMA had 16 fights, 15 times came out on top.
Naturally, the main fights of UFC 280 have been discussed for a very long time. And now we bring you the statements of the interlocutors of . Saturday’s UFC 280 tournament will be broadcast live on the channel. Departure is at 21:15 Moscow time. Also watch the broadcast on the Match! Fighter” from 5:30 p.m.
Makhachev — Oliveira
Russian fighter Alexander Emelianenko:
– Makhachev is the next champion, without a doubt. Islam clearly deserved the title fight with a dominating winning streak. I’m sure the majority of Abu Dhabi fans will cheer him on and he will win the title. Oliveira is a good wrestler, but the Dagestan school of wrestling has proven its superiority more than once.
President of AMC Fight Nights Kamil Gadzhiev:
– If they were training today in training, I would probably bet on Islam. With his grappling, with his physical strength, Oliveira has very little chance. But let’s give the Brazilian some points just because it’s a title fight. He is like a fish in water. So, 50 against 50, if we talk about odds, if we talk about who should win, I will join all my compatriots. Of course, Islam. I believe the light belt is Russian history.
Boxer Soslan Asbarov, famous for his bare-knuckle performances:
– My prediction is Makhachev’s victory. I know what Islam is capable of, what kind of training they have, the team. They have the right approach to fights. I’m sure they are 100% fit for this fight. Oliveira is not a gift? By himself. Not just a fighter at this level. He is a tough opponent, there will be a tough fight, but Makhachev will always win.
Former M-1 champion and six-time combat sambo world champion Vyacheslav Vasilevsky:
– In my opinion, Makhachev is superior to Oliveira in all aspects, except for ground receptions. In terms of submissions and chokes, Oliveira is better. In addition, Oliveira likes to commit suicide while standing, but it cannot be said that his boxing technique is better than that of Makhachev. By the way, in the last fight with Gati, it affected him for the worse. Oliveira received a cut and was knocked down. When he chooses such a tactic, he evens the odds – and he himself can knock out, and he himself can fall. I think Makhachev will fight more carefully and transfer it through a good wrestling school, fight sambo, and through physical strength control and take round after round. Despite Makhachev saying he wants to finish Oliveira, I think the fight will last all five rounds. And Makhachev will take the fight by unanimous decision.
Current UFC light heavyweight Mikhail Tsirkunov:
– From different facts you can blind a lot, but in fact this is just their career, and so it turned out. It’s like different people have their own fingerprints. Yes, they were in the same sport, but one suffered eight losses, went through it, figured out what it was, and moved on. And the other didn’t have any defeats, he did everything more correctly, more clearly, and that’s how it turned out for him. But that doesn’t mean anything. It’s a meat grinder, a fight, anything can happen. It doesn’t matter what happened before. Eight losses is not important, it just means he has no problem losing. How will events evolve? I can’t define for myself. It is impossible to say with certainty that Oliveira will become a smuggler for Makhachev. My opinion is that it’s 50/50.
UFC fighter Irina Alekseeva, whose debut in the organization is scheduled for December:
– I heard that Makhachev is going to knead Oliveira on the ground, and the Brazilian is a jiujitser. And it even recharges… Taking into account that Islam comes from combat sambo, but with all his actions he shows that he is not afraid of his stalls and intends to finish it there. I bet on the victory of Islam. We believe in our guys. Oliveira is a very atypical fighter, we know that very well. I admit, I also really like Oliveira. If I was not a Russian woman and I would not be a fighter, but just a girl from Europe, I would support Oliveira. He loves me and attracts me outwardly. But we will root for Islam.
He is waiting for a duel with a difficult opponent, but Islam has Khabib’s heritage, they have an excellent school. In my opinion, it is impossible to train there and not be a champion, a leader. At the same time, Oliveira isn’t a jerk either, so they’ll have a lot.
Bellator fighter and six-time world combat sambo champion Kirill Sidelnikov:
– Oliveira for Makhachev is one of the most serious opponents. I remember Makhachev from the combat sambo team, he was always distinguished by restraint and good manners. He is not irascible. Even now there is no chatter from him. Makhachev is the good fighter who can steer the fight in the right direction. Let’s encourage our fighter, he must win. Basically, the fight, I think, will be on the ground. Makhachev will try to translate it. For me, the fight will end in a decision, and Makhachev will take the fight 3-2.
Jan-O’Malley
Fighter Ivan Shtyrkov:
– It seems to me that Petruha will immediately accelerate the rhythm, eat it from the first seconds. I think Petya just needs to get that hunger back. He proved everything to everyone. Only if for himself he is a dominant and a predator. Back hungry before the destruction of opponents. Break everyone.
Boxer Soslan Asbarov, famous for his bare-knuckle performances:
Yang will win. I know what he is capable of, he is a very quick and fast fighter. Honestly, I don’t see O’Malley as a rival for Ian. Peter is head and shoulders above. I think he can easily handle it.
Former M-1 champion and six-time combat sambo world champion Vyacheslav Vasilevsky:
– Everything will depend on Jan’s form and mood. If Peter is in the same mindset he was in the first UFC, DIA fights, when his eyes were burning…O’Malley is an uncomfortable, unpredictable, hard-hitting, big fighter, but despite that, he’s got little chance. I think Peter will “move” him. When Yang is charged and courageous, it is difficult to stop him. O’Malley is unlikely to be able to do that. If we see that Yan, who fell in love with the Russian public, we will see Yan win by technical knockout.
Dmitry Bikrev, AMC Fight Nights Champion:
– I expect a bright and aggressive performance from Makhachev and Jan. These guys are very charged and motivated. I expect Makhachev to choke or do a painful submission to Oliveira, and Ian will knock O’Malley out. I think our guys are going to be successful.
Fighter and training partner Yana Denis Lavrentiev:
– This long antelope will run out of steam after the first round, then Petya will just eat it.
UFC fighter Irina Alekseeva:
“Our Piotr should decompress O’Malley, because Ian is always in the best mood. Peter has crazy cardio. He is a great fighter. I really like this fighter. But I note: O’Malley is a very dangerous opponent I’m sure Peter will win, but he just has to be very focused and attentive because there’s a difference in anthropometry Judging by O’Malley’s past fights, at some point, something incomprehensible can arise from him. On the other hand, Peter will not wait for anyone, but will go ahead himself, and O’Malley does not like to be in a hurry.
Bellator fighter and six-time world combat sambo champion Kirill Sidelnikov:
“O’Malley is not a gift. Yes, to us it looks weird and even clownish in a good way. O’Malley has a special anthropometry for this weight – he’s tall with long arms. And for Jan, that can be a problem. Peter moves very well, he has great boxing, great wrestling defense. He can go to the stalls himself. But here, Jan’s victory is ironclad. In the first round, he can, as usual, swing, then push. I think Ian should eat and break O’Malley in the second or third round.
Fighter and sparring partner Yana Ilyas Khamzin:
– Great fight. The poodle talked a lot, and now he has spoken. Sean, welcome to No Mercy Barber Shop to get your hair cut and get into bed. Excellent location for a fight like this. I’m really looking forward to fighting. My prediction is a quick victory for Peter in the first round.
PFL fighter Marina Mokhnatkina:
– I think Petya is very hungry for victories. And it will be a very spectacular fight. I don’t think he will make it through all three rounds, but rather Petya will finish ahead of schedule and please us all with a win. It seems to me that in his head he has a plan not to flirt, but to do everything clearly, quickly, brilliantly, enchantingly. I think it’s another offer to get the belt again. Peter is unlikely to sit around for long, giving someone else opportunities. I’m not sure Yan clearly lost to Sterling in a title fight. If Yan wins now – and I think he will – then Petya will immediately become a contender for the belt. The last fight (with Sterling) was so…sad. Sterling has clearly laid out his plan. With Dillashaw, it would be more interesting to see Peter fight. That would be cool.
Source : MatchTV
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
