“I got so many hits for betting on Charles to win against Islam and it’s crazy because so many people chose Charles, but on social media all I heard was ‘how could you name Charles?’,” the Brit said, replying to questions from reporters ahead of UFC 282. “Yes, I named him because Charles fought stronger opponents and I thought he would win. Am I not allowed to make predictions anymore? People say that I don’t give credit to Islam when I don’t. He looked incredible that evening and completely dominated Charles. But to be honest, I would have done better against him than Charles.”
On October 22 at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi, Islam Makhachev finished Charles Oliveira by second-round choke to win the vacant UFC lightweight championship belt, the first defense of which he will make on February 12 at UFC 284 in Perth against Alexander Volkanovski.
Paddy Pimblett, who won three early wins in the UFC, will return to the octagon this weekend at UFC 282 in Las Vegas, and American Jared Gordon will become his opponent.