“Cancel many black belts” – Islam Makhachev believes DOLING OUT black belts makes the sport of Jiu Jitsu look bad
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Islam Makhachev (L) doesn't spare Dustin Poirier (right, centre) in an attack against Jiu Jitsu black belts
Islam Makhachev takes on Charles Oliveira this weekend in Abu Dhabi, as part of the UFC 280 main event.
Makhachev is an excellent grappler – he has accomplished an impressive array of accolades outside the UFC, having mastered the art of Sambo, a type of wrestling with Soviet origins. Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov have often cited Sambo as being superior to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and it could contain the key to unlock Charles Oliveira’s exquisite grappling.
In an interview with Daniel Cormier, Makhachev exemplified his point, adding to what he had been harping on this whole week – that, he would try and finish Oliveira on the ground, something that the Brazilian’s opponents have feared to do in his last couple of fights.
However, when Daniel Cormier listed the people, he has beat recently, which included Dustin Poirier, Islam Makhachev had an interesting point to raise, “Black belt? Who give him (Poirier)? We have to check that moment. And we have to cancel many black belts because they look Jiu Jitsu look bad. A lot of guys have black belts(s), but… I don’t know, brother.”
Islam Makhachev could put a stop to Charles Oliveira’s dominance
Charles Oliveira is a fourth degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – and that has shown in his fights, and also on the UFC’s record books.
To give a brief recap of the last three years of Oliveira’s ventures in the octagon – he beat Kevin Lee, Tony Ferguson, Michael Chandler, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje, by submission, decision, TKO, and submission (for both), respectively. Talk about a resume! He also is the most decorated submission artist in the UFC’s history.
That, however, doesn’t faze Islam Makhachev, who believes in the years of hard training he put in Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov’s gym, and then the AKA Gym in San Jose. And, he has backed up his words with actions as well. A brief recap of Makhachev’s resume shows that his last four wins have come by finish; the last of which being a TKO win over Bobby Green.
If anything, Islam Makhachev could be Charles Oliveira’s kryptonite. Oliveira has gotten the better of the #2, #3 and #5 ranked lightweights in the UFC. None of them quite had the grappling pedigree that Makhachev possesses. Hence, it could be that this fight was written to enthrall fans, and that they were made to fight one another.
Atleast, that’s what Dana White believes. If Islam Makhachev does beat Charles Oliveira tonight, he will begin a second coming of Dagestani dominance amongst the 155 pounders.
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Udayan Mukherjee
(382 Articles Published)