Google News (VIDEO) Islam Makhachev: 'He (Khabib Nurmagomedov) and his father made me'
by FARUK IMAMOVIC | VIEW 861
Great, masterful, unstoppable...it's hard to find an epithet that can describe Islam Makhachev and his performance at the UFC 280 event. Charles Oliveira was on a streak of 11 consecutive victories, 10 of them by stoppage.
The Brazilian finished elite fighters like Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler and Justin Gaethje, and Islam Makhachev went through Oliveira with ease. The match lasted a little more than one and a half rounds before Makhachev forced Oliveira to tap with a "submission".
Charles Oliveira is the fighter with the most "submission" wins under the auspices of the UFC. He celebrated in that way even 16 times. Islam Makhachev without any hesitation threw Oliveira to the ground from the very beginning of the fight and dominated from the top position.
In the middle of the second round, he sent him to the floor by shaking him with a right hand, and finished the job with an arm triangle choke. He justified Makhachev's role as the favorite, he registered his 11th victory in a row and finally adorned himself with the belt of the UFC lightweight champion.
"How heavy (the belt) is," were his first words when talking to Daniel Cormier, who interviewed him immediately after the match, followed by thanks to God. "I always knew this was not going to be an easy match because this guy (Oliveira) is a warrior.
He always pushes his opponents to the limit, but he couldn't push me much because of my wrestling skills.' ' By winning the title, Islam Makhachev completed the plan of the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Khabib's father. Abdulmanap claimed a few years ago that Islam Makhachev will succeed Khabib on the throne after Khabib retires.
That has now come true, and Islam remembered his coach who passed away in mid-2020. This belt belongs to my trainer Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Many years ago he told me: 'Just train hard and you will become a champion. I want to hand this belt over to (Khabib).
He (Khabib) and his father created me.' ', Islam said, and then it was Khabib's turn to comment. “All our lives, we trained together, 22 years,” Nurmagomedov said. “Twenty-two years! I told you guys Islam Makhachev is the best fighter in the world, not just a lightweight.
He’s the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world”.
Makhachev vs Volkanovski next
Makhachev said, “I don’t see the short guy. Bring him here”. He said he wanted to fly to Australia to fight in Volkanovski's homeland at UFC 284 in February.
“Everything on the line, the pound-for-pound championship of the world, on the line,” Volkanovski said. “Let’s do it”. Makhachev and Volkanovski are true examples of top fighters and athletes.
The prelude to their match will not be permeated with "trash talk", cramming in confrontations and similar unnecessary excesses. Both will "talk" in the cage, and it seems that we will see their showdown in the second month of 2023.
The UFC 284 event will take place on February 12 (2nd month) in Perth, and Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa are the first couples on the fight card of that event. It seems that after the main fight of the evening at the UFC 280 event, we got another pair.