Charles Oliveira vs Islam Makhachev - UFC 280 RESULT - Russian Wins Lightweight Title
- 2 years ago
The UFC has a new superstar after Islam Makhachev stepped out of Khabib Nurmagomedov's shadow to claim the UFC lightweight championship.
A path set by Khabib's late father Abdulmanap, who trained both men, led to Abu Dhabi as an emotional Makhachev ascended to the throne his mentor once occupied.
But for all their influence and the label of 'protege' that has followed Makhachev around, this was his moment to step into the light alone and he did so in style.
The first round opened with Oliveira leaping into the air to throw a speculative jumping knee and where many expected him to edge the stand-up battle, it was his opponent who landed the first heavy blow.
A straight left down the pipe stung the Brazilian into life and made him immediately more cautious. His usual suffocating aggression and march forward was dulled down.
The jiu-jitsu specialist then allowed himself to be taken down into guard in an attempt to land an early submission but Makhachev was wise to it.
Other than a triangle attempt that never really threatened and a couple of nasty elbows from bottom, the Dagestani was in total control.
The end of the round came with Makhachev the clear winner and it only improved from there. In the second, Makhachev dropped Oliveira with the shot of the fight before leaping on top of him.
Dazed, the former champion found himself enveloped in a head-and-arm choke and after a slight adjustment, tapped relatively quickly.
'My whole life I have prepared for this moment, I want to say thank you,' Makhachev said afterwards.
'This guy is a warrior but these are my wrestling skills. I just want to say DC, this is my belt for my coach, many years ago, he told me train hard and you will be champion. Him and his cousin made me.
He then looked to the crowd and roared: 'Where is this short guy, bring him here Volkanovski.
The featherweight champion then entered and said: 'Let's do it, lightweight belt on the line, pound-for-pound on the line, let's do it!'
Khabib then added: 'All life we trained together, last couple of years, he is pound-for-pound No 1 right now, today. He finished Charles, I want him to fly to Australia and fight Volkanovski.
Beneil Dariush beat Matheusz Gamrot in impressive fashion to take his streak to eight in a row on the main card but it looks as though he'll have to wait longer for a title shot.
Volkanovski will start any fight with Makhachev as a massive underdog and seems outsized too badly to really make a fist of becoming two-weight champion but it will not doubt sell very well for the UFC.
In the co-main event of the evening, TJ Dillashaw battled through a round-and-a-half with a dislocated shoulder before Aljamain finished him on the ground by TKO.
A path set by Khabib's late father Abdulmanap, who trained both men, led to Abu Dhabi as an emotional Makhachev ascended to the throne his mentor once occupied.
But for all their influence and the label of 'protege' that has followed Makhachev around, this was his moment to step into the light alone and he did so in style.
The first round opened with Oliveira leaping into the air to throw a speculative jumping knee and where many expected him to edge the stand-up battle, it was his opponent who landed the first heavy blow.
A straight left down the pipe stung the Brazilian into life and made him immediately more cautious. His usual suffocating aggression and march forward was dulled down.
The jiu-jitsu specialist then allowed himself to be taken down into guard in an attempt to land an early submission but Makhachev was wise to it.
Other than a triangle attempt that never really threatened and a couple of nasty elbows from bottom, the Dagestani was in total control.
The end of the round came with Makhachev the clear winner and it only improved from there. In the second, Makhachev dropped Oliveira with the shot of the fight before leaping on top of him.
Dazed, the former champion found himself enveloped in a head-and-arm choke and after a slight adjustment, tapped relatively quickly.
'My whole life I have prepared for this moment, I want to say thank you,' Makhachev said afterwards.
'This guy is a warrior but these are my wrestling skills. I just want to say DC, this is my belt for my coach, many years ago, he told me train hard and you will be champion. Him and his cousin made me.
He then looked to the crowd and roared: 'Where is this short guy, bring him here Volkanovski.
The featherweight champion then entered and said: 'Let's do it, lightweight belt on the line, pound-for-pound on the line, let's do it!'
Khabib then added: 'All life we trained together, last couple of years, he is pound-for-pound No 1 right now, today. He finished Charles, I want him to fly to Australia and fight Volkanovski.
Beneil Dariush beat Matheusz Gamrot in impressive fashion to take his streak to eight in a row on the main card but it looks as though he'll have to wait longer for a title shot.
Volkanovski will start any fight with Makhachev as a massive underdog and seems outsized too badly to really make a fist of becoming two-weight champion but it will not doubt sell very well for the UFC.
In the co-main event of the evening, TJ Dillashaw battled through a round-and-a-half with a dislocated shoulder before Aljamain finished him on the ground by TKO.