Who wants a rematch?
Charles Oliveira dominated Beneil Dariush at UFC 289, prompting the
hungriest fight fans to bang the table for "Do Bronx" getting another UFC lightweight
title shot.
We already saw the Oliveira vs Islam Makhachev fight at UFC 280 play out —
Islam won by second-round submission — but perhaps Charles has evolved enough to pull
off an upset victory this time around.
Charles and Islam will fight at UFC 294 in Abu
Dhabi on October 21. The early Oliveira vs Makhachev odds have the Russian as a -334
favorite.
Charles Oliveira vs Islam Makhachev Odds
Oliveira vs Makhachev Odds Fighter
Odds Charles Oliveira +250 Islam Makhachev -334
Odds as of August 9
Per our odds
calculator, aR$100 bet on Makhachev at -334 pays outR$129.94. The sameR$100 on Oliveira
at +250 netsR$350.
Oliveira vs Makhachev Preview
The odds tell one story, but does the
in-Octagon action play out differently than their first bout at UFC 280?
How Oliveira
Wins
Charles put on a masterclass in his upset win over Beneil Dariush at UFC 289. The
Brazilian established the center of the cage and immediately threatened Dariush with
thunderous high kicks to set the tone. Within minutes, “Do Bronx” had Benny cornered
and covering up for dear life. Oliveira needs to re-establish that tornado-like
momentum in any potential rematch vs Islam.
The 34-year-old is objectively a more
dynamic striker than Makhachev, though the champion caught him with some good left
straights at UFC 280. Charles can eat those and keep moving. Oliveira ran into trouble
when the champ started marching him backward. Dagestani fighters will drain your gas
tank by pressing you against the cage and seeking those judo takedowns. Oliveira ran
out of steam, dropped his hands, then Makhachev socked him with a hook and jumped for
the submission.
Charles wins the rematch by continuously moving his feet, claiming the
center of the Octagon and doing his best to put Makhachev on his heels.
How Makhachev
Wins
Rinse and repeat. Makhachev is fresh off a title defense at UFC 284, where he
battled all kinds of adversity against Alexander Volkanovski. Islam won a tight
five-round decision in that bout, but in a rematch against Charles, he can breathe a
sigh of relief.
The wrestling offers an impenetrable security blanket in all
Makhachev’s fights — Islam knows he’ll dominate on the ground. At UFC 280, there were
concerns about how Makhachev might weather Charles’ striking. Islam erased those doubts
by keeping things simple. As a southpaw, he used one-two combos, keeping things short
and snappy when Oliveira blitzed in.
Oliveira wins by overwhelming or confusing his
opponents. Islam is steady. And unless he starts panicking, which I don’t envision,
he’ll be well-equipped for a rematch.
Charles Oliveira vs Islam Makhachev Pick
After
the Dariush win, I'm a Charles believer. But, in this instance, I don't foresee a
situation where he gets past Islam. Makhachev is like bedrock — you can't outslug him —
and with Oliveira's propensity for early stoppages, I'll bet Do Bronx gets torpedoed
again early.
Pick: Makhachev inside the distance (TBD); UNDER 3.5 rounds (TBD)
