UFC 280 will feature one of the most-anticipated fights in the main event. While it has bouts like Sean O’Malley vs Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling vs TJ Dillashaw for the bantamweight belt, the main event between Charles Oliveira vs Islam Makhachev remains the most talked about fight. Khabib Nurmagomedov labelled it as a ‘dream fight,’ and not many fans would disagree.
The talking point heading into the fight is the grappling. As fans know, both are high-level grapplers and experts on the ground. With 16 submissions in the UFC, Charles remains the fighter with the most submission wins in the UFC. Although Makhachev may not have the numbers that compare with Oliveira, his style of grappling is geared more towards dominance instead of flashy submissions.
The fight you’ve all been asking for 👀@CharlesDoBronxs vs @MakhachevMMA is set for the LW title 👑
— UFC (@ufc) July 16, 2022
[ #UFC280 | @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/GhqjbwZ0LM
It will be Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu vs sambo on October 22nd inside the Etihad Area. So there is no surprise as to why fans are extremely excited about watching the fight play out on the ground. However, one aspect of the fight that many are taking for granted, is striking. It is high time to remind the fans that Charles Oliveira has the most lethal striking in the division.
A fan recently dug up what Justin Gaethje said about Charles after their fight at UFC 274. Although Oliveira submitted Justin, the Highlight was more complimentary of his striking! Justin said the 32-year-old’s punches were more akin to getting electrocuted. It makes sense as Gaethje fell to his back as soon as Oliveira caught him cleanly.
According to Justin, he was far more hurt in that fight than we realized. Dude apparently was on deaths door the whole time against Oliveira.
— MartialMind 🇳🇬🇺🇲 (@MartialMind1) September 27, 2022
Justin has been in some wars and has been in there with some heavy hitters. For him to say this about Charles is very very significant. pic.twitter.com/BoiV2L2Ius
It is a big endorsement considering the number of high-level strikers Justin has fought. From going toe to toe with Dustin Poirier to beating Tony Ferguson from pillar to post, Gaethje has done it all. Hence, the statement from him just validates how dangerous Do Bronx really is on his feet. So there remains every chance that it makes the difference at UFC 280.
Fans think Charles Oliveira can knockout Islam Makhachev at UFC 280
Charles Oliveira vs Islam Makhachev will doubt be a hard-fought contest. Both are durable as Oliveira has not suffered a stoppage loss since 2017, while Makhachev has not lost since 2015. So it will be hard for either fighter to get a stoppage win. However, fans are convinced that Charles can KO Makhachev.
Justin Gaethje’s comment on Charles’ power seems to have persuaded some to think that Islam may be vulnerable to his striking. In all fairness to them, the last fighter to beat the Dagestani in the UFC was Adriano Martins and it was via TKO!
Here are some Twitter reactions
Oliveira ko r1 against Islam would just be the dream
— Desire (@Desire_IH) September 27, 2022
people are saying gaethjes chin got worse , i just think oliveria hits that hard. very deceptive power he has
— 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙛𝙮❗️ (@kevstuhh) September 27, 2022
the more i think about it the more i believe oliveira can knockout islam on the feet.
— Karann (@karanswrld) September 27, 2022
First punch Oliveira hit him with he was stunned lol Charles’s hands are crazy
— Coach Bur (@coach_bur) September 27, 2022
Do you think Charles Oliveira can knock out Islam Makhachev at UFC 280? Let us know in the comments down below.