"Everything he throws, he throws with honesty"– Beneil Dariush sheds light on why "berserker" Charles Oliveira is "easier to walk down" than Islam Makhachev
The lightweight championship showdown between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev will headline UFC 280. However, concerns about whether the pair can make weight have prompted many to suggest likely replacements for the main event.
Beneil Dariush, who is No.6- ranked amongst lightweight contenders, is one name that has been prominent among the suggestions. Dariush fights the No.9- ranked contender Mateusz Gamrot on the same night and might be asked to step up.
Dariush weighed in on how he has approached his training for UFC 280 in an interview with Submission Radio. He said:
"I would say the focus was always Mateusz. As far as grappling goes, he's more similar to Islam as being wrestling-heavy. If I do end up fighting Charles, I'd have to be able to push forward and push through. You can't let a guy like Charles back you up. He's incredible when he's on offense."
He continued further by comparing the two lightweight title challengers and praising Islam Makhachev:
"I can't be too defensive, because fighting a guy like Gamrot or Islam, they use a lot of feints to get to the legs...In order to counter that, you have to be able to feint well too and it's not easy to walk them down. A guy like Charles is actually easier to walk down because everything he throws, he throws with honesty. He doesn't hide anything, he's a berserker. Which is super dangerous, but at the same time, it's easier to see."
Watch his full interview with Submission Radio on YouTube:
Charles Oliveira will approach his fight against Islam Makhachev as a "title defense"
Charles Oliveira's reign came to an unfortunate end. The Brazilian missed weight by the slightest of margins before his fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 274 in May this year and was subsequently stripped of the title.
Regardless, Oliveira put on a show and submitted Gaethje in the first round. However, 'do Bronx' has not let the disqualification faze him and still considers himself the champion.
In a video uploaded by the UFC on YouTube, he spoke about treating his bout against Islam Makhachev as a title defense:
"I showed them I'm the true champion [after defeating Justin Gaethje]. I'm going for another title defense. I'm not going to win back a title. I'm going to defend it. Nobody can take that out of my head. Charles is still the lighweight champion. The champion is Charles Oliveira. Charles 'do Bronx'."
Check out the full video previewing the UFC 280 main event betweel Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev: