Islam Makhachev’s coach Javier Mendez knows that they will be in control during the UFC 280 main event.
The most anticipated fight of the year is just one week away. The lightweight matchup between former champion Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev will be headlining the UFC 280 fight card in Abu Dhabi. This bout is interesting to fans for several reasons and will surely be a test of skills between two of the best fighters at 155 pounds right now.
Oliveira will be looking to regain his lost lightweight title but will be faced with a talented foe in Makhachev. Over the last few years, Makhachev has proven himself to be a force in the division. He has compiled ten wins in a row and under the tutelage of Khabib Nurmagomedov and legendary trainer Javier Mendez, seems unstoppable of late.
Javier Mendez is preparing Makhachev for everything at UFC 280
Both Makhachev and Oliveira are known for having very strong ground games. Oliveira is an expert in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, while Makhachev has a background in Sambo wrestling. It will be interesting to see how each of them fairs against the other’s discipline, but Mendez is ensuring that wherever the fight goes, Makhachev will have the upper hand.
“And so it’s basically the avenue is, Islam is so well rounded, that if we want to stand we will stand. If we want to go to the ground, we’ll go to the ground,” he said on the UFC Unfiltered podcast. “But I can tell you this, we’re going to dictate, meaning Islam is going to dictate, where that fight is going, we’re going to decide where that fight is going to go. Now do we see too much danger when we take him down? Not if we take him down, but when we take him down. Do we see too much danger? If we do then maybe we say we’ll just keep it standing. It’s hard to say right now where we’re going to be comfortable.”
Much has been said about how the ground game will affect this bout. Oliveira even mentioned being willing to start the fight on the ground and test the submission skills of Makhachev. Not to be overlooked is the stand-up aspect of the matchup. Oliveira holds three knockout wins in his UFC career. Mendez knows that the knockout is a possibility especially since Makhachev’s only loss ever was by knockout.
“But I can tell you we’re going to control where it goes, unless something happens. It always does. I mean, this happened before if you get knocked out, hey, there’s zero to your credibility, which could happen I’m not saying it can’t because it happened before,” he said. “Obviously Charles has that kind of power and the skill set to be able to do that. I’m banking on that he’s not going to be able to do that. He definitely is coming in with the intention if you take the ground so what I don’t care, I’m gonna submit you and he very well could you know, stand up same thing I’m gonna knock you out, same thing. He’s that confident in his ability on the ground and a sign that the only thing Charles is not comfortable is if he had to take Islam down. That’s where he’s gonna go, okay, hold on a minute here.”
UFC 280 with Oliveira and Makhachev as the main event will take place on Oct. 22. The winner will be crowned as the UFC lightweight champion. Both men are coming into this fight with the intention of walking out with the belt no matter what it takes.
