Russian Bellator fighter Alexandre Shabliy in a conversation with , he expressed the opinion that the UFC lightweight champion is a Russian Islam Makhachev beat the Brazilian again Charles Oliveira in case of revenge.
Oliveira at the UFC 289 tournament inflicted the first defeat since 2019 on American Beneil Dariush, winning by technical knockout in the first round. Last fall, Makhachev defeated Oliveira and became the UFC champion, later the Russian defended the belt in a duel with Australian Alexander Volkanovski. Oliveira, after defeating Dariush, requested a title fight without naming the defending champion.
What do you think the UFC will do at lightweight?
– It seems to me that Islam will win against Oliveira for the second time. Nothing will change. I would be more interested in seeing a rematch against Alex. Or for Islam to move up to welterweight and fight Edwards.
– After that fight, didn’t you think Makhachev’s rematch with Oliveira looked interesting?
On the one hand, there is the story. Oliveira overtook Dariush – there was a plot. But, as Islam writes, there are levels in this game. I saw for myself that Oliveira and Dariush are fighters who went out, fought and that was it. There was no battle plan, no professionalism. Seems a bit primitive to me. I work with a southpaw, you have to hit with the right hand and the right foot, and Oliveira does that the whole fight.
– Oliveira shot quite well with his right hand and then immediately added his right foot. Then, at the end, he didn’t alternate hands, but threw 3-4 punches from the right. Is it bad?
– Why did he do it? Because Dariush is left-handed. When working against a southpaw, you focus on the right side. And you go for the leg. But by confusion, I mean there was a lot of action in the first round. And that was it: clinch, wrestling, full of himself. If Dariush had a fight plan, he would have let it all go and started making his own,” Shabliy told .
Makhachev previously said he could step into the octagon at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi in October.
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I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
