Charles Oliveira: ‘It’s Over’ if Islam Makhachev Takes Jack Della Maddalena Down

Charles
Oliveira doesn’t think Jack
Della Maddalena can hold his own on the ground against Islam
Makhachev.

Makhachev (27-1) had long been eyeing a move up to welterweight,
but his friend, former champ Belal
Muhammad, stood as a hurdle. However, that changed with
Maddalena (18-2) dethroned “Remember the Name” at UFC 315
earlier this month. Makhachev immediately announced a move to 170,
with
Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White confirming that
he will challenge Maddalena for the title next.

Makhachev’s former foe Oliveira (35-10) recently shared his
prediction for the upcoming fight. While Oliveira acknowledged
Maddalena’s striking skills, he also believes Makhachev will be
much stronger after moving up. “Do Bronx” says we’ll have ourselves
a fight as long as Maddalena manages to do what he did in his win
against Muhammad. However, Oliveira doesn’t think the Australian
stands any chance on the ground.

“Maddalena has a very complicated game because he’s a guy who
deosn’t come out to knock [you] out fast, he comes to make you
hurt. Little by little, right?” Oliveira told Full Violence.
“Little by little. That’s what he did now against Belal. But I
think Islam is going to do very well in this weight, right? Now
he’s going to be much stronger. It’s a game where you just have to
grab him and put him down. I think Jack Della Maddalena is going to
do the same fight he did now against Belal, hitting, moving,
getting out, hurting, it’s a fight. But if you let Islam grab him
and take him down, it’s over.”

While Oliveira had been stripped off his title due to a weight
miss, the Brazilian was essentially defending his strap when he
fought Makhachev at
UFC 280 in 2022. Makhachev submitted him in the second round
and went on to defend his title four times. Meanwhile, Oliveira has
since sandwiched a loss against Arman
Tsarukyan between wins over Beneil
Dariush and Michael
Chandler. Oliveira is now set to fight former featherweight
king Ilia
Topuria (16-0) for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317
on June 28.