Islam Makhachev is the new UFC lightweight champion.
Makhachev, the longtime student of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov and protege of Khabib Nurmagomedov, submitted the submission artist by tapping Charles Oliveira at the 3:16 mark of Round 2.
Afterwards, Nurmagomedov, the former lightweight champion, carried Makhachev along the octagon with him. He was thrilled to see his friend and long-time trainer climb the lightweight mountain.
Here’s what fighters had to say bout the UFC 280 main event between Makhachev and Oliveira.
I told you guys
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) October 22, 2022
The guy who runs away from me is now champion. Congrats @MAKHACHEVMMA #UFC280
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) October 22, 2022
Islam deserves the belt! Honest and hardworking. World class #UFC280
— Dan Ige (@Dynamitedan808) October 22, 2022
That boy islam built different that was nasty
— Terrance ‘T Wrecks’ McKinney (@twrecks155) October 22, 2022
DAMN ! Islam looked very good tonight #ufc280
— Casey Oneill (@kingcaseymma) October 22, 2022
Khabib train me please @ufc
— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) October 22, 2022
WHAT AN OFFICE STATEMENT TO SUB OLIEVERA LIKE THAT! NEW! #UFC280
— Jeff Molina (@jmolina_125) October 22, 2022
Great performance by the new champion and a great moment for this team! #congrats #UFC280
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) October 22, 2022
Dominant.
Very impressive. #UFC280
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) October 22, 2022
Islam did his thing! I fully expected that a sub would come from the opposite side. #UFC280
— Vince Morales (@vandetta135) October 22, 2022
WOW @MAKHACHEVMMA by Submission
Congrats Champion #andnew #ufc280— Aleksandar Rakic (@rakic_ufc) October 22, 2022
Let’s gooooooooooooo Islam #UFC280
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) October 22, 2022
Champion for a long time to come
— LERONE MURPHY (@LeroneMurphy) October 22, 2022
I didn’t see this one coming
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) October 22, 2022
Wow Olivera gets submitted! It’s wild! And sooo Unpredictable #UFC280
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) October 22, 2022
Islam with the sub that was vicious . Oliveira tapped quick ! #UFC280
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) October 22, 2022
