5 ways the Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev fight could play out

#2. Islam Makhachev gets the finish with his ground and pound

Islam Makhachev has four career wins via KO or TKO

Islam Makhachev’s most recent performance against Bobby Green may have foreshadowed the same approach he'll bring to the Oliveira fight. His bout with Green saw Makhachev swarm his opponent with high-level grappling, taking him down and finishing the fight via some vicious ground and pound.

If Makhachev is wary of Oliveira’s incredible ability to fight off his back, utilizing striking on the ground would be smarter than looking for a submission. Makhachev likely has a good chance of taking down the Brazilian, and from there, he could play it somewhat safe whilst inflicting plenty of damage.

Makhachev’s grappling is so good he may be able to pin down 'Do Bronx' and negate his jiu-jitsu skills. He would be smart to not take any chances, so throwing strikes in a closed guard makes sense. If he is able to pull that off, he could well earn himself UFC gold for the first time.

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#1. Charles Oliveira produces yet another submission victory

Charles Oliveira has 21 career wins via submission

Seemingly every time Charles Oliveira has fought recently, fans and media members have doubted his chances. The fight with Islam Makhachev will likely be no different — many expect the Russian to go on a Khabib Nurmagomedov-like run at the top of the division.

However, Oliveira’s last two performances should have taught those people a lesson. Despite having some worrying moments in both fights, 'Do Bronx' was able to get the best of his opponents with his incredible submission game. While Makhachev is a different type of opponent, the result could be the same.

This fight appears to be destined to go to the ground at some point, and since Oliveira is one of the best BJJ practitioners the UFC has, a submission win could well happen. Alternatively, the Brazillian’s superior striking could also set up this type of finish should he score a knockdown.