UFC News: Islam Makhachev Revisits His “Dream Fight” That Stirred Emotions for Khabib & Coach

Islam Makhachev defeated Charles Oliveira at their UFC 280 clash two years ago to become the UFC lightweight champion. Khabib Nurmagomedov, who had retired back in 2020, was in the Octagon as the UFC belt was given to Makhachev. Making the victory even sweeter, no doubt, would have been the way he defeated ‘Do Bronx’, as he utterly dominated the Brazilian before submitting him in the second round.

Oliveira, who had defended his title against the likes of Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier, holds the record for the most finishes in UFC history at 20, with 16 of them being submissions, another UFC record. And Islam Makhachev, on the latest episode of UFC’s ‘Countdown to UFC 302,’ revealed the emotions and feelings that were going through him after the biggest victory of his life.

Islam Makhachev reveals exactly how he felt after winning the title

At UFC 302 on June 1, Islam Makhachev will, for the first time since becoming champ in dominant fashion two years ago, go against a fellow lightweight (his only two title defenses being against Alexander Volkanovski, a featherweight who moved up to face the 155-pound champ). And given ‘Diamond’s historically great striking game, the upcoming bout is expected to be a real test for the champion’s stand-up game, who has come a long way in his striking since his early days of relying exclusively on his excellent grappling.

Ahead of this fight, Makhachev opened up about the ecstasy and elation he felt in the moments after he became the UFC lightweight champion. Describing the feeling of defeating Oliveira at UFC 280 as nothing like anything he had experienced before, Makhachev, in another display of his ever-respectful character, would give his belt to Khabib Nurmagomedov, crediting him and his father for having made him champion.

“I was ready to win the belt in UFC 280 because it’s my dream fight for the title. I won many many times. But that emotion after the title fight, I feel first time in my life. I give the belt to Khabib because I know who made me: him and his father, he said in the UFC 302 YouTube video.

While their first bout went completely one way, with the Dagestani dominating ‘Do Bronx’ on the feet and the ground, Oliveira had promised a very different result at their rematch. The reigning champ was scheduled to rematch Charles Oliveira at UFC 294 last year. However, the Brazilian got a huge cut on his eyebrow just weeks from the Abu Dhabi card and had no choice but to pull out of the fight.

Since then, he has only gotten far away from a rematch with Makhachev. In his last appearance in the UFC octagon at UFC 300, ‘Do Bronx’ lost to Arman Tsarukyan in what was a title eliminator to determine the next challenger to Makhachev’s 155-pound throne. Oliveira is therefore out of the title picture for good in the foreseeable future, at least. Tsarukyan is now next in line for a lightweight title shot after Poirier has his turn at the champ.

Ahead of Makhachev vs Poirier at UFC 302, Charles Oliveira talked about how his thoughts on the fight and the potential winner.

Charles Oliveira’s take on Makhachev-Poirier

Charles Oliveira could not see Dustin Poirier winning his upcoming fight against Islam Makhachev for one very simple reason: the Dagestani’s impeccable and dangerous wrestling. While ‘Do Bronx’ acknowledged that one strike from Dustin Poirier, among the best strikers in the promotion, plus his “heavy hands” and power would be enough to end the bout, he didn’t see it going ‘The Diamond’s way.

“Every striker that faces Islam is going to be the same thing, [Makhachev] will take you down and have bigger chances at winning. But we’re talking about MMA, and one hand, one strike that lands can definitely get you the victory. Dustin Poirier has shown that in his last fight. He’s shown that many times already. He has heavy hands and hits hard, so he definitely can knock him out, but I think Islam remains as champion,” Oliveira told MMA Fighting.

Islam Makhachev himself has given an almost identical take on the fight, giving due respect to Poirier’s world-class boxing and what a dangerous opponent the Lafayette native was on the feet. Just like Oliveira, the champ has predicted that his excellent wrestling would prove too much for Poirier. Do you agree? Drop your views in the comments below.