Charles Oliveira promises to 'shock the world' against Islam Makhachev at UFC 280

Charles Oliveira is in Abu Dhabi this week, in his words, to make history and shock the world.

It’s just he’s not entirely convinced Islam Makhachev warrants a shot at what the Brazilian considers – still – his UFC lightweight crown.

“Islam deserves all the respect in the world, but he should’ve fought somebody maybe in the top five, like I did," said Oliveira on Wednesday, three days out from his headline bout for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 280 at Etihad Arena. "Not just surf on someone else’s wave and skip the line.”

That somebody? Retired former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, a lifelong friend and teammate of, and now coach to, Makhachev.

“For sure, this fight is only happening because of him,” Oliveira said. “It’s for the history and for everything he’s done. If it was any other guy, [Makhachev] would have had to walk the walk I had to walk, knocking on people’s doors, trying to get into a top-five [fight].”

No doubt, Oliveira scrapped and clawed for his position today among the sports leading lights. He is the UFC record-holder for both finishes (19) and submissions (16), casting behind a career once seemingly set for disappointment to climb to the lightweight summit.

Oliveira, 33-8 in professional MMA, was stripped of the belt in May when he missed weight, narrowly, before his scheduled defence against Justin Gaethje.

Admirably, he went on to defeat Gaethje the following day, triumphing by second-round TKO. His win streak sits now at 11.

Makhachev, meanwhile, has won 10 on the bounce, even if he is yet to face a top contender at 155lbs. Regardless, Nurmagomedov and team have repeatedly ratcheted the needle in the build-up to Saturday night.

For them, Makhachev is heir apparent to the lightweight throne.