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For the past few months, we have been eagerly awaiting the fight between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev. Two of the best in the lightweight category finally squared off in the cage tonight. Dagestani Islam Makhachev entered this match as a favorite, and he justified that role.
Khabib's successor registered his 11th win in a row, and thus ended Oliveira's streak of 11 consecutive victories.
How the match unfolded, read below.
Right off the bat, Oliveira made it known that he would not respect Makhachev too much and would fight in his usual style.
Makhachev took Oliveira in the middle of the cage, but after only 30 seconds, Makhachev took him down and engaged in a dangerous game with Oliveira, who is a master of the floor. Oliveira was hitting with elbows from the bottom position, but Makhachev was more dominant in the top position.
Oliveira managed to get up two minutes after the start of the fight, while Makhachev tried to pass the guard. Very quickly, Islam returned Oliveira to the ground floor with a Judaic throw and again took the upper position in the closed guard.
Islam dragged Oliveira to the cage fence and his corner where he could listen to advise from Khabib Nurmagomedov and other members of his corner. Occasionally, Islam would throw punches with his left hand, but he did not do more concrete damage.
He routinely controlled Oliveira from the top position, and he threw enough punches that the referee did not return them to the stand. Seven seconds before the end of the fight, Oliveira threw an "uptick" that could have ended much more dangerously for Islam, but the Brazilian was unable to hit him cleanly.
Islam didn't want to get too involved in crazy exchanges in the stand and quickly went for the takedown in the second round. The fighters ended up in a clinch, and Oliveira was close to the knockdown, but not close enough to knock down Islam, who then pressed him against the cage fence.
Islam also parried nicely in the standing position. He controlled the distance well, and he dodged Oliveira's attacks nicely. Two minutes before the end of the round, Makhachev threw Oliveira to the floor with a right hook and quickly saw an opportunity for an arm triangle choke.
When Islam Makhachev locks that choke, there is no way out. Very soon Oliveira tapped, and the UFC lightweight division got a new champion. The plan of Khabib's late father Abdulmanap has come true! Islam Makhachev took over the throne held by his great friend Khabib Nurmagomedov until two years ago.
Khabib announced months ago that their sambo skills would overpower Oliveira's BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu). It really was, and Khabib Nurmagomedov obviously knew what he was talking about. Charles Oliveira will surely come back even more robust, but the lightweight champion no longer carries that name.
The lightweight champion is now Islam Makhachev and it will be interesting to see if anyone can put an end to such a good fighter. The UFC 280 event lived up to expectations. Too bad about the match between Sterling and T.J.
Dillashaw in which Dillashaw injured his shoulder at the very beginning, but most of the other matches fully lived up to expectations and we could enjoy high-quality and exciting MMA.
UFC 280 - results:
The main part of the show:
- Islam Makhachev def.
Charles Oliveira via submission - R2, 3:16
- Aljamain Sterling def. T.J. Dillashaw via TKO - R2, 3:44
- Sean O'Malley def. Petr Yan via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29) - report
- Beneil Dariush def. Mateusz Gamrot via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28) - report
- Manon Fiorot def.
Katlyn Chookagian via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
- Belal Muhammad def. Sean Brady via TKO - R2, 4:47 - report
- Caio Borralho def. Makhmud Muradov via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28) - report
- Nikita Krylov def.
Volkan Oezdemir via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2) - report
- Abubakar Nurmagomedov def. Gadzhi Omargadzhiev via unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27) - report
- Armen Petrosyan def. AJ Dobson via unanimous decision (30-27 x3) - report
- Muhammad Mokaev def.
Malcolm Gordon via submission (armbar) - R3, 4:26 - report
- Karol Rosa def. Lina Lansberg via majority decision of the judges (29-27 x2, 28-28) - report