Islam Makhachev: Charles Oliveira would be a 'very easy fight' for Khabib Nurmagomedov

Islam Makhachev scoffed at the notion that Charles Oliveira would have been Khabib Nurmagomedov’s biggest threat.

Undefeated former UFC lightweight champion Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) never found his equal in his MMA career, but with Oliveira’s recent tear through the division, many wonder if the Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace would have been the one to dethrone him had Nurmagomedov not retired.

Nurmagomedov’s protege, Makhachev, thinks Oliveira (33-8 MMA, 21-8 UFC) would have suffered the same fate as the majority of “The Eagle’s” prior opponents.

“How you’re gonna beat him? Like he’s gonna give him submission or what?” Makhachev told ESPN. “This is like easy fight for Khabib because Khabib has the most dominant grappling on top. He’s gonna take him down and hold him there very easy. I think honestly this is a very easy fight for Khabib because stylistically, all his pressure is not gonna work against Khabib because Khabib pressures all his opponents, makes them tired, hold them there.”

Makhachev (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) is currently paving his own way and thinks everyone needs to worry about him and how he fares against Oliveira. With the UFC lightweight belt currently vacant after Oliveira was stripped for missing weight prior to submitting Justin Gaethje at UFC 274, Makhachev thinks he’s the one who should face Oliveira for the title next.

“But we don’t have to say Khabib’s gonna beat Charles,” Makhachev said. “I’m gonna beat Charles, and everybody is gonna understand.”

He continued, “Honestly, I believe I can finish this guy, and I really want to finish him in the grappling, in his area, and I know I can do this.”