Islam
Makhachev expects Charles
Oliveira to retain his lightweight crown when he defends the
belt against Justin
Gaethje in the UFC 274 headliner this May.
“I think it’s going to be a good fight because those guys are high
level,” Makhachev said at the
UFC Fight Night 202 post-fight press conference. “Charles
improved his striking game and he have more than Justin in the
ground game. I think they going to strike a little bit, then
Charles is going to take him down, take his back and finish him
there. Like third round or second round.”
If that happens, Makhachev is confident that he has compiled the
resume necessary to be next line to face “Do Bronx.” The American
Kickboxing Academy product secured his 10th straight victory on
Saturday, running through short-notice opponent Bobby Green
in Saturday’s main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Makhachev
has finished his last four opponents, adding Green to a list that
also includes Dan Hooker,
Thiago
Moises and Drew
Dober.
“I told you guys a couple days ago, this guy is not my level and
I’m going to show you my level,” Makhachev said. “11 months, I
finish four guys and I deserve [a title shot].”
If Oliveira does defeat Gaethje, it will be the Brazilian’s 11th
consecutive triumph. Despite that, count Makhachev among the
doubters who questions Oliveira’s heart if the fight goes into deep
waters.
“I think it’s going to be good match because this guy’s good in the
striking and grappling and wrestling. I’m going to make him tired,
pressure him, and make him give up,” Makhachev said. “Because this
guy, I know like when somebody go with him three or four rounds and
give him hard punch and hard time, and he can finish some people
with choke. But when he do not do this, he give up all the time.
But I have grappling skills more than him. He going to try to
finish me on the ground, but it’s going to be so hard for him.”
While he would be willing to step into a title fight as a
short-notice replacement, it’s not his first choice. In an ideal
world, Makhachev would get to challenge for 155-pound gold in Abu
Dhabi.
“Next week I’m ready for fight. Next pay-per-view show. But I
deserve a little bit of notice,” he said. “I want to fight in Abu
Dhabi. I have many of my friends, my family, my friends who stay
outside because they cannot come to Apex. I want to fight for the
title in Abu Dhabi when all my fans can support me.”