Sep 7, 2019; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Islam Makhachev (red gloves) against Davi Ramos (not pictured) during UFC 242 at The Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

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Islam Makhachev Shares Conditional Prediction For UFC 317 Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira Fight

Islam Makhachev gives his take on the upcoming Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira lightweight title fight at UFC 317!

Sep 7, 2019; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Islam Makhachev (red gloves) against Davi Ramos (not pictured) during UFC 242 at The Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

UFC fighters love to share their thoughts about upcoming fights, especially when they involve top contenders. These predictions often give fans unique insights into how elite athletes analyze matchups. Current champions and former title holders usually have the best understanding of what it takes to succeed at the highest level. Their breakdowns carry more weight than typical fan opinions because they’ve actually been in similar situations themselves.

The upcoming featherweight title fight featuring Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira has caught the attention of many fighters across different divisions. Topuria brings devastating knockout power to the table, while Oliveira possesses some of the most dangerous submission skills in the entire UFC. Both fighters have proven they can finish fights in spectacular fashion, making this one of the most anticipated matchups of the year.

Islam Makhachev Breaks Down The Tactical Battle

Islam Makhachev recently shared his analysis of the Topuria vs Oliveira fight, and his breakdown shows just how evenly matched these fighters really are. The lightweight champion, whose belt these two are going to be fighting for, believes the outcome will depend entirely on who can successfully execute their game plan.

“It depends on who can follow their game plan. If Charles can take him down, he can finish him easily on the ground. But if Topuria catches him, he’s going to sleep. There are two options. it all comes down to who can make their game plan work…Charles has a chance, he has a big chance. He always fights well against strikers. Against Poirier, he fought well; against Chandler, both had good punches and very good stand-up. But if you give Charles even a small chance, he’ll finish it. That’s why Charles is always dangerous. I would say it’s a 50-50 fight.”

Makhachev pointed out that if Charles can get the fight to the ground, he has the skills to finish Topuria easily. However, Makhachev also acknowledges the serious danger that Topuria presents on the feet. The Spanish-Georgian fighter has knockout power that can end fights with a single punch.

This honest assessment highlights just how dangerous both men are in their preferred areas of expertise. The Dagestani champion sees this as a true 50-50 fight, which is rare praise coming from someone at his level. Makhachev doesn’t usually call fights coin flips, but he recognizes that both fighters have legitimate paths to victory. His analysis shows respect for both competitors while acknowledging that small moments could determine the entire outcome of this much anticipated fight.

(Image Credit: Per Haljestam – Imagn Images)

Charles Oliveira

Ilia Topuria

Islam Makhachev

UFC 317

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!