Islam Makhachev, the UFC lightweight champion, and Charles Oliveira will square off in a much-anticipated rematch in only 16 days. The MMA community is eagerly watching this exciting match to see if Makhachev has the answers to Oliveira’s comeback. Khabib Nurmagomedov, a member of the UFC Hall of Fame, was in Makhachev’s corner during their last fight at UFC 280, which significantly helped him win.
Nurmagomedov, though, left his position as a coach following the bout and took a lengthy vacation from MMA. ‘The Eagle’ has now returned to train his companion for the approaching fight, though it is still unclear whether he will be present when the fight actually takes place. Islam Makhachev provided clarification regarding the Dagestani legend’s presence in his camp and corner for the forthcoming fight during an interview with ESPN MMA.
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Makhachev will defend the title against “Do Bronx” at UFC 294 in the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, on October 21, 2023, after winning it over the Brazilian on October 22, 2022. The UFC lightweight champion defeated Alexander Volkanovski in his final match by majority decision at UFC 284 on February 12, 2023. Some, perhaps because they were missing Nurmagomedov’s support at the back, thought it lacked conviction. It will therefore be interesting to watch if Islam Makhachev can continue to dominate the fight without Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Makhachev sat down for an interview with ESPN’s James Lynch to promote his upcoming match versus the Brazilian. The two talked about a variety of subjects, including his opinions on the Volkanovski fight and how to become a two-division champion.
The interview included a fascinating discussion about Khabib Nurmagomedov’s likely absence from UFC 294 in particular. Asserting that “The Eagle” might not be there for him in his corner, Makhachev said that ‘The Eagle’ would travel to Dubai to assist him in camp. He stated:
“He will come tomorrow, we are waiting for him. Yeah, tomorrow [Khabib Nurmagomedov] he will come to Dubai. He’s gonna see us in the camp, he’s gonna be here. He’s not gonna be in my corner of course but he will be here today… I don’t know fight day [Whether Khabib will be present to watch his fight] where’s he’s gonna be. But next two weeks he’s gonna be here…“
