UFC 280 features a lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev. This fight will crown the best lightweight in the world right now.
Both fighters are on an incredible winning streak leading up to the title fight at UFC 280. And any one of them can walk out of the Etihad Arena with the lightweight title. Team Khabib is supremely confident that Islam Makhachev will be the next UFC lightweight champion.
However, there is a huge possibility that Charles Oliveira finishes Islam Makhachev early in the fight and proves Khabib Nurmagomedov wrong. The Eagle has been disrespectful towards Oliveira’s skillset and achievements leading up to the fight.
And this has led the fans to speculate about the return of Khabib Nurmagomedov if Oliveira beats Makhachev. Fans believe that The Eagle will come back to avenge the loss of Makhachev after UFC 280. However, it seems the former lightweight champion has no interest to compete inside the octagon.
In a recent interview with ESPN, when Nurmagomedov was asked about his potential UFC return, he stated:
“If he beats Islam of course I am gonna feel bad. It’s no way people can talk about Khabib is gonna come back. Please leave me alone. Let these guys fight. This is different time, different fighters, now they prime time and we have to understand who is the best lightweight in the world right now.”
Charles Oliveira on a potential fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov
Do Bronx has a huge task in his hands with the upcoming title fight against Islam Makhachev. However, the former champion has responded to potentially defending his title against Khabib Nurmagomedov in the future.
And Oliveira is not too adamant about fighting The Eagle after UFC 280 as he stated:
“Yeah, honestly I don’t think he’s gonna be fighting again. Khabib is set, he’s ready, he’s retired and it’s done. And I fully respect that decision.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov fought some of the best fighters in the lightweight division in his UFC career. However, Charles Oliveira would have been the toughest test for him with his phenomenal grappling and striking abilities.
However, fans will certainly get an idea of how the fight between Nurmagomedov and Oliveira would have played out. Islam Makhachev is as good as Khabib Nurmagomedov if not a better fight. In fact, Khabib has admitted that Makhachev is better than him in many aspects.
And if Oliveira finishes Makhachev with ease then many fans will certainly hail Oliveira as the lightweight GOAT over Khabib Nurmagomedov.