“If there’s a man it’s Charles”- Demian Maia hails Charles Oliveira as the only guy good enough to beat Khabib Nurmagomedov
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Charles Oliviera(L), Khabib Nurmagomedov(R)
Demian Maia talks about Khabib vs Charles! Khabib Nurmagomedov retired as a champion and is considered to be the greatest lightweight of all time. However, Charles Oliveira, the former king of the lightweight division is edging closer to taking that throne from Khabib. Islam Makhachev, who is a top lightweight contender and believed to be the successor of Khabib is eyeing a potential title fight against Oliveira.
Oliveira won his title after knocking out Michael Chandler at the main event of UFC 262. He then went on to defend his throne against the former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier. Many questioned Charles’ legitimacy as a champion before this fight, but after he choked out Poirier in the 3rd round of their contest, everyone acknowledged him as the true king of the division.
His next title defense came against another former interim champion, Justin Gaethje, and Oliveira weighed in 0.5 pounds because of a mishap, and he was forced to relinquish his title, he defeated Gaethje anyways, and now he is booked to face Islam Makhachev for the undisputed title.
Related – “He don’t have ground game” – Nurmagomedov gives shocking remark on Oliveira’s skills
Demian Maia remembers warming up with Khabib Nurmagomedov before his debut
Many draw comparisons between Khabib and Oliveira, and UFC legend, Demian Maia believes Charles has what it takes to beat someone like Khabib, talking on MMA Fighting’s Trocacao Franca podcast, he said, “If there’s a man to beat that type of fighter, it’s Charles, because Charles has guard. You have to have guard to beat someone like that, enough guard to at least survive but also be offensive, to be dangerous there. Charles has that. Charles is a dangerous fight for that type of fighter. Not to mention he’s dangerous as hell on the feet.”
Maia has the utmost respect for Khabib and he remembers the time when he was warming up with them before his debut at UFC 148, he said, “He was warming up with us, such a nice guy. ‘Leozinho’ Vieira said, ‘Demian, this kid is so tough. He’ll be champion one day.’ I asked him if he had good wrestling and he said, ‘No, he has good jiu-jitsu.’ He trained with a bunch of jiu-jitsu guys at AKA and has that incredible background in wrestling and sambo, so he combined all that.”
Also read – “Maybe why Khabib stepped away”- Sean O’Malley names Oliveira as a real threat to Khabib’s legacy
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Suryansh Thakur
(1600 Articles Published)