Can Charles Oliveira stop Islam Makhachev’s relentless wrestling at UFC 280? For Alireza Noei, the man behind Chute Boxe’s wrestling training since 2015, he won’t only excel defensively, but score takedowns on Makhachev, too.
“Charles is a heavy man so he’s an advantage,” Noei stated on the Trocacao podcast. “[Makhachev] isn’t afraid to fight off his back because he has evolved a lot. I have a friend that trains at AKA and he said Islam has great jiu-jitsu. He will definitely try to use his wrestling to take Charles down and hold him, control and win rounds, but Charles has trained enough wrestling to break Islam’s game.”
Asked about Oliveira’s plans to “break” Makhachev in the octagon? Noei replied “Charles will not get taken down and he will bring Islam down .”
“When [Makhachev] goes down, his head will be messed up,” he said. “If the opportunity comes, Charles will take him down. Charles’ wrestling has evolved a lot. He took Tony Ferguson down in his fight. .”
He’ll take Islam down
Noei, a professional MMA fighter himself with a record of 7-2 after coming up short in his attempt to compete at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, gives Makhachev credit for his success in MMA — but expects Oliveira to “shock the world” on Saturday night.
“If Charles takes him down, 80 percent [chance] he catches him,” Noei said. “But I think Charles either knocks him out or taps him in the third round, or wins a decision after five rounds. … This fight will be a shock for everybody.”
Alexander Volkanovski may be the next to win Oliveira against Makhachev. He could move up from lightweight after almost being crowned champion in the featherweight division. Noei doesn’t see him as a huge threat, though, after watching “do Bronx” finish Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler and Kevin Lee over the past few years.
“He’s the 145 champion and he’s great, heavy hands, but someone with good wrestling takes him down,” Noei said. He was defeated by Chad Mendes in the fight, [but] and he did a good job fighting when he fell. Charles fights him. The first heavy handed to land – Charles drops Charles and captures him.
“Easy for Charles. Very easy for Charles. He has weak wrestling. He wins the fight .”
if it is booked.
