Islam Makhachev has told that despite his talented wrestling skills, he won't be able to take Charles Oliveira down in their upcoming title fight
Oliveira, 32, has the chance to win back his UFC belt on October 22 when he faces Makhachev for the vacant lightweight title. 'Do Bronx' was supposed to be making the third defence of the lightweight strap at the Abu Dhabi event, but the Brazilian was stripped of his golf after missing weight for his UFC 274 clash against Justin Gaethje in May, which he went on to win by first-round submission.
Makhachev is on a 10-fight winning streak and is the betting favourite heading into the title fight, despite having less experience than his counterpart, who is unbeaten in his last 11 fights. Iranian wrestling coach Alireza Noei has been working extensively with Oliveira to help him prepare for Makhachev and he struggles to see how the Russian will be able to take his fighter down.
"I tried a lot [to takedown] Charles but with him you can't," Noei told Brazilian outlet PVT. "I'll tell you now, you can't stabilise him on the ground.
"I think that in this fight, Charles won't fall. Islam won't be able to take Charles down, but if he does, from underneath he's very secure. He'll either stay underneath to catch him or he'll just be able to get up and keep it standing.
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"Charles is a guy that learns a lot easier than other fighters. We've already trained a little of Islam's wrestling because Islam is left-handed. So you know that his left side is stronger, left hand, left leg.
"That's where he is stronger. We also trained for Islam's weaknesses. Where and how to take him down, where he is strong and you have to avoid. Islam is a very good wrestler, I think even better than Khabib [Nurmagomedov]."
Makhachev, who has stopped his last four UFC opponents, predicts he will tire Oliveira out in the second round of their fight before finishing him in the third. Oliveira has felt insulted by comments made by his rival and members of his team in the lead up to their fight, insisting their arrogance will come round to haunt them. "They're being arrogant and that's what will kill them. The arrogance from their manager, former fighters, their arrogance will kill them," he told MMA Hoje.
