Coach admits possibility of Islam Makhachev getting knocked out

The showdown between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira is just a week away. The fight will headline UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi and the stakes are sky high.

In his recent interview, Islam Makhachev’s coach Javier Mendez noted that there is a possibility of Islam Makhachev getting knocked out but added that the Russian will dictate the fight.

"Islam is so well-rounded that, listen, if we wanna stand, we'll stand. If we wanna go to the ground, we'll go to the ground. But I can tell you this, Islam is gonna dictate where that fight's going... It's hard to say right now where we're gonna be comfortable but I can tell you, we're gonna control where it goes. Unless something happens, it always does. I mean it's happened before. If he gets knocked out. Which could happen, I'm not saying it can't. So obviously. And Charles has that kind of power and the skillset to be able to do that,” Mendez said in the recent episode of UFC Unfiltered (h/t Sportskeeda).

ALSO READ | Islam Makhachev can beat Charles Oliveira with Wrestling says Henry Cejudo

Islam has suffered a knockout loss in the past as he was stopped by Brazil’s Adriano Martins. It remains as the only loss in the professional MMA career of Islam. He has gone on to build an impressive winning streak after this loss and has earned himself a title shot through the same.

Interestingly, Adriano Martins recently gave out his prediction for Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira and went with Oliveira.

A long list of other fighters has also picked Oliveira with the most recent one being Anthony Smith who said that Oliveira has what it takes to get the better of Islam.

ALSO READ | Islam Makhachev plans to knock down and finish Charles Oliveira

What do you think will happen when Islam Makhachev fights Charles Oliveira?

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