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Charles Oliveira’s big win over Beneil Dariush at UFC 289 likely brought him back to title contention. He may very well get another chance at reclaiming the undisputed 155-pound title from Islam Makhachev, the man who took the belt from him eight months ago in Abu Dhabi.
With that possibility of a part two, Oliveira’s coach Diego Lima shared his prediction on the fight.
Charles Oliveira’s coach shares his prediction
In an interview with MMA Fighting, Lima gave a prediction on how the potential rematch between his fighter and the reigning champion would go. It’s a forecast that likely isn’t at the top of fans’ minds when talking about Charles Oliveira.
“It’s a knockout. It’s funny that people say, ‘But Charles has the most submissions [in UFC history],’ but the fight starts on the feet and we have a lot planned for the striking — and it continues when we go to the ground.”
To prove his point, Lima used UFC 262 as an example. “Do Bronx” finished Michael Chandler via TKO in the second round to win the then-vacant title.
“Chandler went down and Charles got the TKO. Charles could have gone for the mount and a submission. Charles is very strong. He’s attacking so well.
“That’s why I really believe in a knockout — but when they go down, then we have a submission.”
Charles Oliveira ‘wasn’t on a good day’ at UFC 280
A couple of days after UFC 280, Charles Oliveira simply admitted to having an off-night while giving his props to Makhachev. He also isn’t planning to change his approach for a rematch.
“I was hitting hard, my mind was strong. In the locker room, I was telling my team: ‘Be at peace. It’s already been written. We’ll take what’s ours.’ But we don’t write it, God does.
“That’s the truth. I’ve learned a lot from it. It wasn’t my time. I think it was my day to lose, to go back home, relax and overcome.”
For Lima, it was more about failing to execute their game plan than utilizing the wrong strategy.
“I know it’s hard to hear that, but it wasn’t Charles there. He wasn’t alright. I don’t think it’s cool when someone loses and starts giving excuses. It wasn’t Charles’ day, it was Makhachev’s day. Congratulations to him.
“Nothing we had planned for him was done and it wasn’t because Makhachev was one step ahead, it just didn’t happen. We’ll train and go there to win [the rematch].
“I can’t say, ‘Look, we’ll change our strategy’, because we didn’t do our strategy. I believe in the strategies we have. I’m not taking anything away from Makhachev.
“Makhachev is a badass. All I’m saying is that Charles wasn’t on a good day, unfortunately.”
What Islam Makhachev wants next
Islam Makhachev was looking forward to a new challenger. Having already defeated Charles Oliveira, the Dagestani was pulling for Beneil Dariush to come out victorious.
“Oliveira won, but I was rooting for Dariush. I thought it would be a new challenge for me,” Makhachev said in an interview during Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC event over the weekend.
“Dariush had eight wins in a row. I don’t know. I can’t say yet if my next fight will be a rematch against Charles. We have to wait. Now Justin and Dustin will fight, and then the UFC will decide…”
UFC president Dana White, a rematch between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev only makes sense. From his end, the champion says he will take whatever’s put in front of him.
“Of course I want a new name on my resume. It’ll be better for me. [But] if I don’t fight Oliveira now, everyone will say that I am avoiding him. I never choose my opponents. I will fight anyone the UFC gives me.”
Makhachev last saw action at UFC 284 in February against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. He won via a disputed unanimous decision.
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