MMA fans await the UFC 294 rematch between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira. With ‘Do Bronx’ fighting for redemption in the heart of Abu Dhabi this October, Makhachev is in for the fight of his life without his mentor in his corner for the second time in his UFC career. Khabib’s absence was felt in the blockbuster against Alexander Volkanovski when Islam came closest to a defeat in years. Interestingly, the lightweight GOAT Khabib Nurmagomedov anticipates a tougher battle this time around and expressed a unanimous prediction.

The last bout between the two took place at UFC 280 which saw Makhachev end Oliviera’s win streak to bring the lightweight gold back to Dagestan. While ‘The Eagle’ exuded immense confidence in his protege’s ability to dominate in their initial encounter, he anticipates a different dynamic in the rematch.

Khabib Nurmagomedov provides his insights on Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira’s rematch

The former UFC lightweight champion envisions a challenging bout for both fighters overall, with Makhachev facing an even tougher test than their initial clash. Khabib believes that ‘Do Bronx’ has reached a point where he has nothing left to lose, setting the stage for an intriguing and unpredictable showdown. Khabib stated,

“There will be more risks for Islam. Oliveria has nothing to lose. He has already lost. I think it won’t be an easy fight for both of them. For Islam, the second fight will be more difficult than the first. This is my purely personal opinion.”

At the start of the year, Khabib Nurmagomedov dropped a bombshell when he announced his complete withdrawal from the world of MMA. Since that announcement, ‘The Eagle’ has yet to make a comeback as a coach, even though he had been steadily making his mark in that role with each successive fight. Khabib’s unexpected decision to step back from coaching was driven by his heartfelt desire to dedicate more precious moments to his family.

The aura of the Dagestani grappler is one that few men can replicate in the history of the sport. Not only is his presence a massive confidence boost for his champ, but it’s also a distinct tactical advantage given his immense fight IQ. This doesn’t bode well for the champ, as the one fight that Khabib wasn’t in his corner was the bout where he looked the most vulnerable and how!

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Khabib’s absence exposes weaknesses in Makhachev’s game

The impact of Coach Khabib’s corner advice is not lost on anyone, least of all his protege. The champ himself has likened having ‘The Eagle’ in his corner to “cheating” in the sport. This monumental absence will worry Makhachev, as Khabib’s absence in his last championship fight was glaringly noticeable.

Islam was unable to finish off the reigning featherweight champ and relied on a narrow decision win as his first championship defense. Many, including Volkanovski himself, thought that Makhachev was fortunate to come away with the win in that bout. His grappling wasn’t as effective, his gas tank was exposed against Volk, and decisively, he was unable to come away with the win as he was used to doing. Whether Makhachev will show what he has to beat a revitalized Oliveira without Khabib in his corner, only time will tell.Read more: “Are All These Fights Rigged” – Dana White and Co. Land in Trouble As ‘Disgusting’ Call by Official During William Gomis vs. Yanis Ghemmouri Puts a Blemish on UFC Paris