Charles is the king winning the lightweight title and defending it against Dustin Poirier. He has smashed the records. Fifteen submission victories and he is only 32. Heās won ten in a row with no end in sight.
Islam Makhachev is ranked at #4 and has won 9 in a row heās on the cusp of a title shot. If Charles Oliveira vs Islam Makhachev happens and Iām sure it will who will be the victor? Will it be the 3rd degree BJJ black belt or the combat sambo world champion?
āHonestly, when Beneil was injured, I told Ali [Abdelaziz, Makhachevās manager] and he said the next day that nobody gave an answer, and I thought it wasnāt going to happen. Ali said, āJust Bobby Green give answer, he said heās ready.ā I said letās go,ā Makhachev told reporters in his pre-fight media availability. āIt doesnāt matter who because the last three months [were] so hard for me. I prepared for Beneil, training so hard. Just give me someone.ā
That āsomeoneā ended up being one of the more established veterans in the lightweight division. A fan favorite who has been competing in the UFC since 2013, Green is known as much for his fighting ability as for his in-cage antics.
LAS VEGAS ā Islam Makhachev is full of confidence heading into UFC Fight Night 202.
Makhachev (21-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) meets short-notice replacement Bobby Green in Saturdayās main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, where he hopes to earn a title shot with a win.
UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira has impressed with his well-rounded game. He knocked out Michael Chandler to capture the title, then submitted Dustin Poirier to retain it. But stylistically, Makhachev thinks heād be able to impose his will on the champ.
āItās going to be a good fight because we almost have the same style,ā Makhachev told MMA Junkie at Wednesdayās media day. āHe has good grappling skills, he has good striking, and itās going to be a good fight. I donāt think itās going to be hard for me. I can take him down easy because I know he doesnāt have good wrestling skills. But his grappling skills (are) high level and we will see who is better there.ā
With Makhachev envisioning a matchup with Oliveira (32-8 MMA, 20-8 UFC), that means he sees the Brazilian notching another title defense when he faces Justin Gaethje at UFC 274.
āI think Oliveira is going to beat Justin Gaethje, and (it will be) 11-(fight) winning streak vs. 10-win streak,ā Makhachev said. āThis is going to be a big fight for all MMA fans.
āI think heās Itās going to finish him. I think heās Itās going to strike with him (in the) first round, and after, heās Itās going to take him down. I think heās Itās going to choke him.ā
Charles Do-Bronx Oliveira 
#4 Islam Makhachev
High-Level Masters of Grappling 
