Chael Sonnen believes Charles Oliveira won't submit Islam Makhachev
Chael Sonnen doesn't think Charles Oliveira can score a submission win over Islam Makhachev in their upcoming lightweight title fight. According to 'The American Gangster', submitting a skilled grappler like Makhachev when he is sweaty is a next-to-impossible feat. The 45-year-old recently said on his YouTube channel:
"If Charles is gonna be the one getting the finish, I don't believe it's gonna be a submission. I don't believe his jiu-jitsu, no matter how much you love it... is gonna be a factor in this match. Submitting guys is very rare. Submitting guys once they are sweaty and tired, even more rare. Submissions over good guys, next to never happens. So submissions against really good guys, who are sweaty and tired, in championship matches... I can name a couple, but it's really rare."
Watch Sonnen's comments from the 5:10 mark of the video below:
Sonnen believes that the most likely finishes can come from Islam Makhachev if he gets lucky with a submission attempt or scores a TKO from the mount. According to 'The American Gangster', the only way Charles Oliveira finishes Makhachev is by catching him with a knockout punch on the feet.
Charles Oliveira's coach predicts an early knockout victory for 'do Bronx'
Both Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev are elite grapplers although they hail from completely different schools. While 'do Bronx' is a slick submission specialist, many doubt if the Brazilian will find his usual success against Makhachev's stifling combat-sambo style.
However, Oliveira has more than one way to win, having previously displayed legitimate knockout power. According to his coach Diego Lima, 'do Bronx' isn't scared to go to the ground against Makhachev but is more likely to knockout the Dagestani on his feet.
Predicting an early KO win for 'do Bronx', the Chute Box head coach recently told MMA Junkie:
“Charles is stronger than him, and Charles has more techniques than him, so that doesn’t scare me. Because if Makhachev brings him to the floor, Charles will beat him. And if Makhachev tries to stay up, Charles will knock him out... It’s going to be in the first or second round, a knockout.”
Watch Lima's interview with MMA Junkie below: