UFC Scene: Makhachev is the new lightweight champion

In the lightweight category, the outstanding Brazilian Oliveira has been the reigning champion for the past year and a half, who was in the official weight class in May of this year before the confrontation with Justin Gethje He lost the championship belt due to half a pound or more than 200 grams. Oliveira, who even after losing weight, defeated Gethji and thus scored his eleventh victory in a row, yet he continues to consider himself the lightweight champion and whenever someone reminds him of the unpleasant event, he says: « The lightweight champion has a name… and that name is Charles Oliveira. »

Mahayev, who scored 10 consecutive victories and competed for the championship belt for the first time in his career, is also recognized as a champion not only on paper. With this, he tried to succeed his compatriot, great friend, teacher and now also his coach Habib Nurmagomedovwho was the lightweight champion between April 2018 and October 2020.

Many criticize the 31-year-old Dagestan that he has not yet fought with fighters of the highest caliber and therefore does not deserve to fight for the title of champion, but the fact is that he was similar to Habib and ‘Eagle’ then. He convincingly defended his championship belt three times against the best fighters offered by the lightweight division.

Just like in the old days of the UFC, we were able to witness a classic fight between fighters representing different martial arts. Oliveira is, of course, a master in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has racked up 21 of his 33 professional victories with submission. He scored as many as 16 UFC sponsored requests, which is an absolute record, and finished 19 UFC fights early, which also puts him at the top of the list in that regard.

The confrontation with Makhachev was Oliveira’s 22nd fight in the UFC, which put him just two fights short of the record for most fights under the umbrella of the American organization, which is currently held by the veteran. Jim Miller.

For the first time in UFC history, two fighters who were in a streak of 10 or more consecutive wins have faced each other.

On the other hand, Makhachev is a former world champion and a specialist in the Russian martial arts of sambo, or more precisely sambo fighting, which combines elements of wrestling, judo, jiu-jitsu and kickboxing. And if the Russian cannot boast of such extraordinary stats as Oliveira, he has the fact that he is the fighter with the fewest punches per minute from a fight in the entire history of the UFC, that is, only 0.84 punches per minute, which is definitely less than a blow.

Islam, more than just protest fighting, has sought to take down and then dominate in a battle on the ground, where Dagestani fighters are frighteningly dangerous. Oliveira knows how to carry out submission from almost any position, so the new champion was determined by little things. The pace was relentless from the very first moment. Makhachev hit Oliveira several times, but Oliveira managed to defend himself all the time.

Even two minutes before the end of the second round, when Mahayev’s right hook completely blocked his opponent, who quickly succumbed to the fight on the ground. The UFC was crowned a new lightweight champion and succeeded Makhachev as his mentor. The Dagestanis are back on top again.

Also for the title in the bantamweight category: Aljamain Sterling – TJ Dillashaw

The first title fight we could see on Saturday was on the schedule in the heavyweight division, as the UFC Champion’s belt was defended for the second time in his career. Aljamin Sterling. The ‘Funk Master’ earned the belt in a controversial way, the first time in UFC history that someone became a champion after an opponent was disqualified.

But it must be admitted that at UFC 259 Sterling, while on the ground, Peter Yang He deliberately hit his head with his knee and was rightly disqualified. The comeback fight wasn’t entirely without controversy, this time as far as the referee is concerned, but in the end Sterling was left octagon with the championship belt.

The fight was already decided in the first round, although it was not over after the first five minutes. Delachaeu suffered a shoulder injury in his first exchange of blows with Sterling. Injury prevented him from making a successful defense and Sterling defeated an unarmed opponent by a technical knockout in the second round and defended the title again. Dilacho admitted after the fight that he was already experiencing a lot of shoulder problems during the preparations for the fight.

Peter Yan – Sean O’Malley

Although the two fighters are separated by up to 10 places on the list of contenders (Yan is the number one contender, and O’Malley is only the eleventh), a very exciting showdown has been promised between two fighters who excel in combat. . In his professional career, the Russian has won seven out of 16 victories by knockout and only one by surrender, while the American has won up to 11 opponents and also won only one by submission.

The outcome of the fight could also have a powerful impact on the entire bantam weight division, with the UFC chief already hinting that the winner of this fight would likely fight for the championship belt next, comparing O’Malley to Conor McGregor, who became the undisputed champion in the UFC for the first time at the age of 27, according to O’Malley. O’Malley won by split decision, although Peter Jan made him six times, the Russian also dominated the fight much longer than his opponent. O’Malley admitted after the fight that it was the toughest of his career and that he wasn’t so injured after a fight.

Benil Driouch – Matthews Jamroth

Dariush, undefeated for four and a half years, was supposed to face Mahayev in February in the battle of the first contender, but the Iranian-American injured his ankle and their fight was abandoned. After a successful rehab, the former world champion in Brazilian jiu-jitsu gets a new opponent, who quickly makes himself known in the UFC. This is two-time former KSW champion Mateusz Gamroot, who led the Polish organization from 2016 to 2020 and is also the last fighter to hold two KSW Championship belts simultaneously.

Even in the evening’s second battle between an Iranian-American and a Polish, it was not decided until after three rounds and a unanimous decision. Dariush remains undefeated, and in an impassioned speech after the fight, he said that he would fight whoever was placed before him, even a light title.

Caitlin Shukajian – Manon Furo

The Flyweight fighters were the first to enter the octagon Caitlin Shukajian And the Manon Fur. The fight was very even in the first two rounds, but in the third round, the French managed to knock the American to the ground. In the eyes of the stewards, this move likely ultimately settled the fight, as the stewards declared Fyurotova the winner by unanimous decision.

List of main event battles that you will be able to watch live on VOYO:

Lightweight: Charles Oliveira – Islam fears (championship fight)

Pants Weight Class: Aljamin Sterling – T.J. Dillashaw (championship fight)

Bantam weight: Peter Yan – Sean O’Malley

Light Weight Class: Benil Driouch – Matthews Jamroth

Women’s flyweight: Catelyn Chukajian Manon Fur