Justin Gaethje doesn’t have an official pick for the UFC 280 main event between Charles Oliveria and Islam Makhachev, but he doesn’t believe Makhachev is going to run over Oliveira in any way.
Gaethje attended Saturday’s UFC 278 in Salt Lake City. He was there to share his views on Makhachev and his opponent.
“I’m 100 percent confident that Islam will not dominate Charles, and that’s about it,” Gaethje told reporters backstage at UFC 278.
” I don’t know what to say, but it is the way it feels. The last time [I fought], I stepped in there with [Oliveira], there’s no way. This is going to be an exciting fight. It would be a great fight.
“The Highlight” just underwent successful nose surgery following his UFC 274 first-round stoppage loss to Oliveira in May in his second opportunity to become the undisputed lightweight champion. Gaethje is not yet certain when he will be returning to UFC 274 but he will continue to pay attention the rest of his division.
While he might not be in attendance for UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi, he expects Oliveira to be in tremendous condition from start to finish.
” I think Charles will move forward, Islam will try, and eventually, maybe he’ll be successful,” Gaethje stated. He’ll win if he is but I don’t think he will tire him. Even if he takes him down for the first two rounds, I don’t see Charles getting submitted, and I don’t see him being too exhausted to continue the fight that he needs to fight.
” It’s what I believe. Chance, luck, [but I have] no idea.”
