As per the latest rankings, Islam Makhachev holds an impressive No. 3 position in the world pound-for-pound, while Charles Oliveira is not far behind at No. 7. These two remarkable fighters clashed at UFC 280 in October, where Makhachev displayed his dominance by submitting Oliveira in the second round, claiming the vacant UFC lightweight title.
Now, brace yourselves for an epic rematch! The reigning UFC lightweight champion, Islam, is set to defend his hard-earned belt against the former champion, Charles Oliveira, in the thrilling main event of UFC 294. Mark your calendars for October 21st in Abu Dhabi, as Dana White, the UFC president, made this exciting announcement on Wednesday night.
Islam Makhachev vs Charles Oliveira 2
Fresh off a remarkable victory, Makhachev (24-1) secured a unanimous-decision win over featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284 in February. This Dagestan native has been on an incredible winning streak, conquering 12 consecutive fights, all within the UFC.
The 31-year-old fighter could attribute a lot of his success to the guidance and training from none other than former lightweight champion, Khabib ‘The Eagle’ Nurmagomedov, who serves as his longtime training partner and mentor.
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— danawhite (@danawhite) July 20, 2023
Meanwhile, Oliveira (34-9, 1 NC) displayed his prowess at UFC 289, where he achieved a first-round TKO against Beneil Dariush, paving the way for this eagerly-awaited rematch. The Brazilian-born fighter had previously claimed the lightweight title in May 2021 after defeating Michael Chandler.
Unfortunately, Charles faced a setback when he missed weight in May 2022 ahead of a fight with Justin Gaethje, leading to him being stripped of the belt. Despite this setback, Oliveira, 33, boasts the most finishes (20) and submission wins (16) in UFC history, a testament to his talent.
The UFC 294 stage is set for an electrifying clash between these two extraordinary fighters, and many fight enthusiasts are eagerly counting down the days to witness this epic rematch.
Dana White snubs Alexander Volkanovski vs Islam Makhachev bout
Just a while ago, the electrifying UFC 284 battle at RAC Arena in Australia saw Makhachev emerge victorious over Alexander Volkanovski in a gripping showdown. The clash of these two superstars captured a lot of attention, with Alexander expressing his belief that he had given a commendable performance. Following his win, Makhachev humbly acknowledged the greatness of his opponent, recognizing the intense challenge he had faced.
Since that mega-fight, fans have been fervently expressing their desire for a rematch between these two incredible champions. Both fighters themselves have echoed the sentiment, anticipating the opportunity to take each other on again.
While there were rumors of Islam potentially facing Alexander in an immediate rematch following Volkanovski’s dominant title defense against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290, the UFC’s top choice for this epic showdown at UFC 294 seems to be Oliveira, who showcased his incredible skills in his recent triumph over Dariush.
With this move, Dana White seems to have closed the lid on the Makhachev vs Volkanovski super fight for the time being. And considering the scheduling issues, it’s not very likely that we will see the two champs square off again.
What are your thoughts regarding the UFC Abu Dhabi card? Let us know in the comment section below.
