Islam Makhachev News

Cole Shelton - October 20, 2022

In the main event of UFC 280, the vacant lightweight title is up for grabs as Charles Oliveira takes on Islam Makhachev. Heading into the fight, Oliveira is a +128 underdog while the Dagestani native is a -164 favorite on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros believe Oliveira and his experience fighting top competition will be the difference as they expect the Brazilian to get the win.

Ryan Harkness - October 19, 2022

Islam Makhachev has been toiling in the shadow of his friend and teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov since arriving in the UFC. On Saturday at UFC 280, he’ll have a chance to establish his own championship reign with a win over Charles Oliveira. There’s clearly no rivalry between Islam and Khabib. The Two have known each other since childhood, and have trained under Khabib’s father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov for many years. Khabib recently said Islam Makhachev was one of his father’s top students, which is high praise indeed given the quality of fighters that have come through Abdulmanap’s gym.

Cole Shelton - October 18, 2022

Charles Oliveira says he no longer has any weaknesses ahead of his UFC 280 title fight against Islam Makhachev. Early on in Oliveira’s UFC career, many called him a quitter as they claimed he looked for ways out of fights when it wasn’t going his way. That has continued to follow him throughout his career as Michael Chandler and Justin Gaethje both said he would quit when they fought him which didn’t prove to be the case.

Cole Shelton - October 17, 2022

Charles Oliveira is expecting to make a statement at UFC 280. Oliveira is set to face Makhachev in the main event of UFC 280 for the vacant lightweight title. It’s a fascinating matchup and is a fight that both men have a ton of confidence heading into it. Along with that, the scrap is happening in Abu Dhabi, and according to Oliveira that is because Makhachev’s team demanded it would be there.

Harry Kettle - October 17, 2022

Islam Makhachev has hit back at critics for suggesting he hasn’t fought high level competition in the UFC. While he may be riding a 10-fight win streak right now, Islam Makhachev isn’t considered to be a lightweight who has fought the best of the best in the division’s top five just yet. The names of his victims on his current streak include Drew Dober, Thiago Moises, Dan Hooker, Bobby Green and more, but none of them have that quality about them which deems them to be overly impressive.

Harry Kettle - October 17, 2022

UFC star Islam Makhachev has given his thoughts on ‘fat guy’ Daniel Cormier after his appearance at WWE Extreme Rules. For many years now, Daniel Cormier has been praising the growing success of Islam Makhachev and backing him to eventually become UFC lightweight champion – a goal he’s been working towards for many years now.

Cole Shelton - October 11, 2022

Alexander Volkanovski will be the betting underdog if he does step into fight at UFC 280. On Tuesday, Volkanovski revealed he was confirmed to be the backup fighter for the vacant lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev. The event will take place on October 22 in Abu Dhabi, Dubai.

Susan Cox - October 11, 2022

Islam Makhachev is saying Michael Chandler’s claims for a title shot are ridiculous. Michael Chandler, 36, has one thing on his mind and that is getting another shot at the UFC lightweight belt.

Cole Shelton - October 10, 2022

Hasbulla will be in the corner of Islam Makhachev at UFC 280. Makhachev is set to headline the pay-per-view card on October 22 in Abu Dhabi for the vacant lightweight title against Charles Oliveira. It’s a massive fight for Makhachev and he will have an interesting addition to his corner. Although Javier Mendez and Khabib Nurmagomedov will be in his corner, as usual, he will also have Hasbulla, according to his manager Ali Abdelaziz.

Josh Evanoff - October 10, 2022

Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is now the backup fighter for UFC 280’s headliner. ‘The Great’ has been out of action since his trilogy bout with Max Holloway at UFC 276 in July. In that outing, Volkanovski moved to 3-0 in his trilogy with the Hawaiian, as he won by unanimous decision.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 9, 2022

Justin Gaethje thinks the UFC Lightweight Championship fight between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev could be a barn burner, but he thinks it also has a chance of being a dud. Oliveira vs. Makhachev will headline UFC 280 on October 22. The title fight will be held inside Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Oliveira would’ve entered the fight as the UFC Lightweight Champion, but he was stripped of the gold one day before his UFC 274 fight with Gaethje due to missing championship weight. Oliveira defeated “The Highlight” via first-round submission.

Chris Taylor - October 8, 2022

Charles Oliveira has responded after Islam Makhachev expressed concern that their UFC 280 title fight may not come to fruition. Oliveira (33-8 MMA) and Makhachev (22-1 MMA) are set to collide for the promotions vacant lightweight title in the main event of UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi on October 22nd.

Harry Kettle - September 27, 2022

Islam Makhachev has used social media to laugh off recent criticism from fellow UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler. Next month at UFC 280, Islam Makhachev will finally attempt to capture the UFC lightweight championship when he battles Charles Oliveira for the strap in a highly-anticipated main event clash.

Josh Evanoff - September 26, 2022

UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler believes we need to pump the breaks on praise for Islam Makhachev. The Russian has been out of action since his first-round TKO over Bobby Green in February. That victory, along with wins over names such as Dan Hooker and Arman Tsarukyan, has secured him a title shot. Makhachev is set to face Charles Oliveira next month at UFC 280 with vacant lightweight gold on the line.

Harry Kettle - September 16, 2022

Khabib Nurmagomedov has predicted that Charles Oliveira will not end up fighting Islam Makhachev at UFC 280. Next month at UFC 280, Islam Makhachev will attempt to finally follow in the footsteps of the great Khabib Nurmagomedov by capturing the UFC lightweight championship. It’s an opportunity he’s been desperately waiting for and now, we’re just a matter of weeks away from seeing whether or not he can climb that last mountain.

Josh Evanoff - September 15, 2022

UFC lightweight contender Beneil Dariush could fight for gold sooner than expected. The 33-year-old has been out of action since his decision victory over Tony Ferguson last May. Since that time, Dariush has had a failed booking with Islam Makhachev. The matchup was viewed as a title-eliminator but was canceled after the Iranian fighter suffered an injury.

Harry Kettle - September 14, 2022

UFC president Dana White is open to the idea of Alex Volkanovski serving as the back-up fighter for the UFC 280 main event. For the last couple of years, Alex Volkanovski has been proving himself as one of the best fighters in all of mixed martial arts. The reigning UFC featherweight champion has seen off the challenge of everyone the promotion has put in his way including The Korean Zombie, Brian Ortega and even Max Holloway.

Harry Kettle - August 31, 2022

Islam Makhachev has given his thoughts on Leon Edwards‘ fantastic knockout win over Kamaru Usman at UFC 278. This October at UFC 280, Islam Makhachev will take part in the biggest fight of his career as he prepares to battle Charles Oliveira for the UFC lightweight championship. The contest is set to go down in Abu Dhabi and while Makhachev has been tipped to become a world champion for a long time, Oliveira will almost certainly serve as the toughest test he’s faced to date inside the Octagon.