Islam Makhachev’s coach Javier Mendez describes the lightweight champion’s winning moment at UFC 280
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Javier Mendez (L) describes the feeling of seeing his pupil Islam Makhachev (R, in red shorts), beat an all time great in Charles Oliveira
Now that UFC 280 is a few days behind us, and we have had the time to digest the frankly crazy action on display, it is time to look forward and anticipate what holds next for the fighters.
Despite wanting to look forward, the fashion in which one-half of the main event’s protagonists, Islam Makhachev outclassed Charles Oliveira from the get go, dropped him and then sent him to the shop with an arm triangle, is just simply mind-blowing.
Now, in his first post-fight interview since Makhachev became lightweight champion, Javier Mendez has come forward to pour his thoughts on what he felt during those tense moments. He said, “It gave me a jolt of lightning right through me, the way it happened. I was prepared for five rounds which is what I always do, but anything short of that, it’s like a shock.”
Speaking about Oliveira’s gameplan heading into the bout, he said, “No, I wasn’t surprised… we’re going to control where the fight goes, and that was the difference. If we want to keep it stand up we’ll keep it standup, if we want it to go the ground, we’ll go to the ground.”
Javier Mendez also dishes on Islam Makhachev’s finish, and Beneil Dariush’s title shot hopes
Charles Oliveira is by no measure an unhittable fighter – in all of his last four fights now, he has been dropped to the ground. The trend continued against Islam Makhachev, who dropped him with a powerful hook in the second round, and from there, it looked like the Russian’s night.
Speaking about when he thought his fighter had the win in the bag, Mendez said, “I actually knew it was done only when he hit him… and he latched onto him… that’s the time I knew it was a wrap.”
Unlike other fighters on the studded card, Islam Makhachev’s immediate future looks already set. Barring any unexpected incidents, it seems like the Russian will defend his 155 pound belt against pound-for-pound king Alexander Volkanovski, in Australia. The two faced off against each other in the cage after the fight, signalling the fight to start materializing.
Speaking about the potential megafight, he said, “They (the UFC) decide who’s going to be put up on the next title, it’s what they want. Who’s actually more deserving, in my opinion… Dariush. He deserves it, he 100% deserves it.”
Javier Mendez, then, clearly believes that Beneil Dariush deserves the next title shot, more than the Australian. However, the fight with Volkanovski will go ahead in February, and after that, if Makhachev still remains the lightweight king, he will no doubt face the American in his second title defence.
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Udayan Mukherjee
(382 Articles Published)