feature-image

Getty

feature-image

Getty

Charles Oliveira made a triumphant return to the Octagon at UFC 289. His win has seemingly put him in title contention to challenge Islam Makhachev. However, his last fight with the Dagestani native didn’t go his way, as the former UFC fighter, Kenny Florian, revealed the only way he can defeat the reigning lightweight champion.

Watch What’s Trending Now!

Many people were bidding against Charles Oliveira at UFC 289. They believed that Beneil Dariush would come out on top due to his well-rounded style of fighting. However, ‘Do Bronx’ proved everybody wrong and defeated ‘Benny’ in the very first round via TKO. The Brazilian even created the record for most finishes in UFC history with twenty.

ADVERTISEMENT

Kenny Florian claims Charles Oliveira has to go for the finish

In a video clip from a recent episode of the ‘Anik and Florian Podcast’, Kenny Florian analyzed the possible rematch between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira. So far, the reigning champion has been on the run of his life, amassing a 12-fight winning streak. While Alexander Volkanovski came close to beating him, nobody has been able to defeat him as of late.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

However, Kenny Florian believes that the only way ‘Do Bronx’ can beat Makhachev is by going for the finish. He said, “As far as someone who’s gonna move forward and try to finish the fight, like, that’s how you beat Islam Makhachev.”

Florian claims that only ‘Do Bronx’ can beat Islam Makhachev

ADVERTISEMENT

Florian also believes that there is less possibility of scoring a decision win over Islam Makhachev. He added, “You don’t go out there and try to decision him or outpoint him.” The only way for Oliveira to win the fight is to believe in his skill sets and create the kind of result and chaos which has earned him the record for most finishes in the promotion.

ADVERTISEMENT

Florian said, “You need someone with a skill set like a Charles Oliveira, who’s at least gonna try to go for the finish. That’s his best bet of kinda creating that chaos.” The MMA veteran claims that there is no one better than the Brazilian to achieve that feat in the stacked lightweight division. He added, “I don’t think there’s anyone else that can do it like Oliveira.”

READ MORE: After Wild Accusations Regarding Massive Transformation, Ex-Champ Charles Oliveira Fires Back at Detractors With a 3-Word Message

Kenny Florian mentioned during the podcast that Islam Makhachev rarely makes a mistake. He doesn’t like to take risks, and that’s why fighters find it hard to overcome him. However, he has full confidence in Oliveira’s ability to emerge victorious if he does what he’s known for.

ADVERTISEMENT

WATCH THIS STORY: Conor McGregor Could Lose Millions of His Followers After Musk’s New Twitter Policy

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by

author-image

Himanga Mahanta

4,196 Articles

Himanga Mahanta is a Senior UFC Writer at EssentiallySports and a key pillar of the combat sports team. With over three years in sports journalism, he leads the site’s MMA PPV Live Coverage Desk, closely working with real-time updates, in-depth analysis, and trend-driven insights that keep fans ahead of the curve. From breaking news and beat reports to exclusive stories and sharp opinion pieces, Himanga’s coverage spans the full spectrum of the MMA world. His insightful reporting has earned recognition within the combat sports community, including mentions from notable figures such as Chael Sonnen. A keen observer of fight dynamics and a devoted Conor McGregor fan, Himanga blends passion with journalistic precision, making his work a reliable go-to for UFC followers worldwide.

Know more

Edited by

editor-image

Anuj Jacob

ADVERTISEMENT