Charles Oliveira lays down challenge to Islam Makhachev ahead of UFC 280 lightweight title fight

Charles Oliveira’s message to Islam Makhachev is simple: try and take him down by any means necessary.

Former champion Oliveira, 32, will battle Makhachev, 30, for the vacant lightweight belt at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi on October 22.

Understandably much has been made in the build-up to the fight of Makhachev’s wrestling background.

But Oliveira, who holds the record for the most submission wins in UFC history, has simply told him to bring it on.

“The ground is his turf, so he will definitely try to do that, but if he does, will he want to bring down the best submitter in the history of the UFC? I’m not sure,” he said through an interpreter.

“We’ve seen that he is the type of fellow who tries to take the fight to the ground, but that doesn’t hinder me at all. So I’m ready for everything that he brings.

“He’s dropping in on a wave, and that’s what he’s supposed to do. But if you see my record, I’ve fought tougher people, and I’m just here to prove it. And I’ll do it again.

“The name of the champion is well known, and his name is Charles Oliveira.”

In fact it sounds like he has no problem with being the away fighter either.

He told MMA Fighting: “I’m going to his home, where they wanted the fight, where they think they will beat me.

“I know I’m the biggest problem of this division. No one’s dumb, right? Every guy Islam fought was a striker and he took them down, and I went toe to toe with every guy I fought and only took them down to make things happen after I hurt them on the feet.

“Islam is fighting the worst problem of the division, Charles Oliveira.

“Want to start the fight on the ground? I’ll start playing guard. It won’t make any difference to me.

“Again, I’m telling everyone this, I’m the division’s biggest problem