Islam Makhachev is the man of the moment after his recent impressive submission victory over Charles Oliveira for the UFC lightweight title. Just before the fight, Islam called out many BJJ black belts as incompetent at grappling and wondering who gave them their black belts.
When Islam Makhachev faced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and expert submission artist Charles Oliveira at UFC 280, many were wondering how his Dagestani wrestling would fare against the cutting-edge guard game of Oliveira. The answer was blatantly obvious, to the detriment of Oliveira.
When Makhachev spoke to Daniel Cormier prior to his title-winning performance, he shared little to no concern about Oliveira’s grappling skills.
“He’s finished 10 out of 11 guys,” said Makhachev. “Only guy he didn’t finish was Tony Ferguson, because Tony Ferguson didn’t tap to the armbar – which most people would’ve tapped to.
He went on to explain the reason for Ferguson’s defiant performance: “But this guy has the grappling skill, that’s why. All these [other guys who Oliveira has faced] Chandler, Gaethje, Poirier… All these guys have nothing [no grappling skills]. On the ground, I don’t think so…”
When Daniel Cormier tried to make that case for Dustin Poirier, who is a black belt, Makhachev easily dismissed him saying: “Please, brother… So what he did when he [Ferguson] catch his arm, he goes to do, what is this brother? [Granby roll]… Black belt. Who gives him that? We have to check that brother.”
Islam then piled on, claiming that there are way too many people carrying a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt which they do not deserve: “And we have to cancel many black belts [because] they make Jiu-Jitsu look bad. Because a lot of guys have a black belt but I don’t know [if they have the skills].”
While many expected a Sambo vs. BJJ showdown in the grappling exchanges of UFC 280’s main event, Makhachev simply outshined Oliveira in striking, clinching, takedowns and wrestling, avoiding the guard with ease and submitting him with an arm triangle choke.
