Former UFC fighter accurately predicted how the Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev clash would play out months before the fight: "You can only slip through the cracks so much"
Very few fight fans would have expected Islam Makhachev to dominate Charles Oliveira, let alone submit him. However, such wasn't the case for James Krause, who accurately predicted how the fight would play out when it was announced in the first place.
Many thought Khabib Nurmagomedov's prediction that his apprentice would dominate 'do Bronx' was audacious. However, Islam Makhachev substantiated the daring claim and emerged victorious as the lightweight champion with a second-round submission victory in the main event of UFC 280.
Interestingly, the former UFC welterweight contender James Krause, who's now a successful coach, predicted the outcome months before the actual fight on his YouTube channel The 1% Club with James Krause:
"I got to be honest, I think Makhachev is going to make this look easy. I could look like an idiot here. I think Islam is going to grab him. I think he's going to beat him up on the fence."
Krause added that while Oliveira has always managed to conquer adversity in his previous fights, the accumulated damage over time will play a major role in the fight:
"I know Oliveira always seems to find a way, but we're talking about a guy who's been dropped like six times in his last two fights. You can only slip through the cracks so much. And I feel like he's slipped through the cracks a couple of times now."
Little wonder that several MMA fighters, including the likes of former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno, have instilled their faith in James Krause given his ability to discern fights meticulously.
Watch the clip below:
James Krause with a scarily accurate prediction months before #UFC280.😳
https://t.co/wkKbdvXkV1
Islam Makhachev's coach names an opponent that's more worthy of a title shot than Alexander Volkanovski
Following his spectacular win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 280, Islam Makhachev seized the occasion to call out featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski for the first defense of his 155-pound strap. Raising the stakes, the Dagestani challenged the Australian to put his status as the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter on the line.
Islam Makhachev's coach Javier Mendez, however, feels that Beneil Dariush has earned his opportunity to fight for the title. The No.4-ranked lightweight contender is on a brilliant eight-fight win streak and passed his test against a surging contender in Mateusz Gamrot with flying colors this past weekend.
Speaking during a recent interview with Submission Radio, Mendez said:
“Who is actually in my opinion, more deserving from a true professional sport [point of view]? But this is not a true sport, this is an entertainment sport. So, from a true sport, Dariush deserves it. He 100% deserves the next shot. But, because this is an entertainment sport, the fans want to see Alex and Islam go for it, because the pound-for-pound king vs. the new king in the lightweight division.”
Watch the full interview below: