Charles Oliveira has a unique offer for his upcoming bout with Islam Makhachev.
Former UFC lightweight champion Oliveira will take on Makhachev in the headlining fight of UFC 280 on Oct. 22 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Although it was Makhachev’s camp that suggested the event be in their backyard, his mentor and longtime friend Khabib Nurmagomedov wanted it to be in Brazil.
Oliveira is willing to make another concession inside the cage.
Charles Oliveira offers to start the fight on the ground
In a recent interview with MMA Fighting podcast Trocação Franca, “do Bronx” talked about his next fight with Makhachev
“I’m going to his home, where they wanted the fight, where they think they will beat me. I know I’m the biggest problem of this division. No one’s dumb, right? Every guy Islam fought was a striker and he took them down, and I went toe to toe with every guy I fought and only took them down to make things happen after I hurt them on the feet. Islam is fighting the worst problem of the division, Charles Oliveira.
“Want to start the fight on the ground? I’ll start playing guard. It won’t make any difference to me. Again, I’m telling everyone this, I’m the division’s biggest problem and you’re not understanding. I don’t care who it is and when it is. If you want to trade on the feet, come for it, I have firepower in my hands. If you want to take me down, do it.”
Oliveira believes he’s a bad matchup for Makhachev
Although Makhachev opened as the betting favorite, Oliveira is confident he has what it takes to beat the Dagestani fighter.
“When you’re fighting someone that will only take you down, you have to train what you do best. People don’t get it, I don’t know if they’re stupid or dumb. Islam has some striking, but he takes everybody down. Every guy he’s fought are strikers who were afraid of getting taken down.
“I’m not afraid of getting taken down. Islam has a lot to worry about what he’s going to do. I have no weight over me, nothing. I’m 100 percent at what he does best. I have the record for most submissions in [UFC] history and I have firepower in my hands.
“You want peace? We want twice of it. You want war? War is coming, it’s on October] 22. … I’m ready. I’ll win this guy. Listen to me, I’ll leave a gigantic legacy.
“I get near the big names of the sport and they feel bothered. Why is that? I haven’t done anything. The reality is they see how much I’m evolving. That’s the reality. The way I talk has changed, the way I get dressed has changed, the way I arrive has changed. Everything has changed.”
For Oliveira, it’s his chance to reclaim the belt he was forced to vacate in May against Makhachev this October.
