October 19, 2022 11: 00 am ET
ABU DHABI – Charles Oliveira will take on Islam Makhachev for the uninhabited light-weight title at UFC 280, since that’s what’s next, although the previous champ doesn’t always think it must’ve been made.
“I think Islam shouldhave all the regard in the world,” Oliveira informed MMA Junkie and other pressreporters throughout UFC 280 media day on Wednesday, “but I believe he oughtto’ve combated someone possibly in the leading 5 like I did, not simply browse on somebody else’s wave and avoid the line like he did.”
Oliveira’s remark was precisely what it appeared: a veryfinely veiled shot at the reality that Makhachev is the star student of UFC Hall of Famer and previous light-weight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“For sure, this battle is just occurring since of him,” Oliveira stated.
For what it’s worth, Makhachev (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) is on a 10-fight winning streak heading into Saturday’s primary occasion at Etihad Arena and hasn’t tasted defeat however assoonas 7 years back. What Oliveira (33-8 MMA, 21-8 UFC) takes umbrage with is the truth that not one of Makhachev’s triumphes hasactually come versus an challenger ranked in the leading 5. His 2 most significant wins were first-round surfaces in his 2 most current battles – a submission of Dan Hooker in October 2021 and a TKO of Bobby Green this past February.
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