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Mateusz Gamrot confirmed as backup fighter to Islam Makhachev, Charles Oliveira title clash at UFC 294

Mateusz Gamrot backup fighter for UFC 294 title fight Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira Surging lightweight contender and recent headliner, Mateusz Gamrot may be in line for a quickfire turnaround in needs be in two week’s time, with promotional CEO, Dana White confirming the Pole as the official backup fighter for UFC 294’s lightweight title fight between Islam Makhachev, and Charles Oliveira. Gamrot, who currently holds the number six […]

Surging lightweight contender and recent headliner, Mateusz Gamrot may be in line for a quickfire turnaround in needs be in two week’s time, with promotional CEO, Dana White confirming the Pole as the official backup fighter for UFC 294’s lightweight title fight between Islam Makhachev, and Charles Oliveira.

Gamrot, who currently holds the number six rank in the official lightweight rankings, most recently headlined UFC Vegas 79 at the end of last month, landing a second round TKO victory over fellow contender, Rafael Fiziev, who suffered an ACL tear during their clash.

The victory came as former two-weight KSW champion, Mateusz Gamrot’s sixth victory in his last seven Octagon walks, having previously landed a close decision win over Jalin Turner back in March of this year at UFC 295 in a short-notice turnaround.

Mateusz Gamrot confirmed as backup fighter at UFC 294

And according to UFC leader, White, American Top Team staple, Gamrot will be in line for a quickfire return later this month at UFC 294 if required, confirming the Polish lightweight as the official backup fighter to Makhachev’s lightweight title defense against former champion, Oliveira.

First sharing the Octagon a year ago in the main event of UFC 280 back in October, Makhachev snapped the stunning 12-fight winning streak of Sao Paulo finisher, Oliveira with a second round arm-triangle submission win in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Successfully defending the lightweight title back in February in the main event of UFC 284 in Perth, Australia – Makhachev landed a close decision win over featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski.

As for Oliveira, the Chute Boxe MMA staple has since returned to the winner’s enclosure at UFC 289 back in June – landing a first round ground strikes TKO win over the surging Beneil Dariush in a first victory in Canada for him.

Do you agree with Mateusz Gamrot’s status as backup fighter at UFC 294?

Islam Makhachev praises Charles Oliveira ahead of UFC 294 rematch fight: ‘He’s a tough guy, but I am better’

Set for his second go-round with Brazilian favorite, Charles Oliveira next weekend in Abu Dhabi, UAE, undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev insists no luck was involved in his submission win over the Brazilian last year – claiming furthermore, that while Oliveira is good, he is just simply better than him. Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight […]

Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion under the banner of the promotion, returns to the Octagon next weekend atop a UFC 294 card in the Middle East – taking on Sao Paulo finisher, Oliveira in a title rematch, a year after their first clash.

Last time out between the two, former champion, Oliveira saw his division-best run of 12 straight victories come to an end, with Makhachev latching onto a second round arm-triangle submission win.

And successfully defending the title in the time since, American Kickboxing Academy staple, Makhachev defeated pound-for-pound number one and reigning featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski back in February of this year in a close decision win.

Rebounding from his title fight loss to Makhachev back in June, Oliveira the most prolific submission artist and outright finisher in the Octagon’s history, added to his tremendous tally in a maiden win in Canada for him, stopping surging challenger Beneil Dariush with a slew of opening round ground strikes for a TKO victory.

Islam Makhachev denies being lucky against Charles Oliveira

And closing fast as a significant favorite to double his wins over Oliveira just next weekend at the Etihad Arena, Makhachev, who will employ the coaching talents of long-time teammate, Khabib Nurmagomedov into the final two weeks of his camp, insists no luck was involved in his win over Oliveira last year.

“I beat him (Charles Oliveira) once, and I want to beat him again to prove it wasn’t luck,” Islam Makhachev said ahead of UFC 294. “He’s a tough guy. He’s very good on the ground, [he] has good striking. But, I am better.”

Can Islam Makhachev land a second career win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 294?

Colby Covington responds to rival Islam Makhachev ahead of potential UFC fight: He’s a sheep herder’

UFC welterweight, Colby Covington to Islam Makhachev in latest attempt to build up potential clash between the pair. Colby Covington will go months without a media appearance or interview, but as soon as he is booked for a fight the MMA world is met with an avalanche of call outs and insults towards fellow fighters. […]

UFC welterweight, Colby Covington to Islam Makhachev in latest attempt to build up potential clash between the pair.

Colby Covington will go months without a media appearance or interview, but as soon as he is booked for a fight the MMA world is met with an avalanche of call outs and insults towards fellow fighters. The American is always trying to promote and is even trying to set up a fight after his upcoming title bid against Leon Edwards.

Edwards and Covington are set to meet on December 16 in the main event of UFC 296, and will not be an easy contents for either man. However, Covington already has his eyes set on his first defence – reigning UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev.

Colby Covington responds to Islam Makhachev

After an initial push from Covington, the pair have shared a small back-and-forth and Covington shows no sign of calling time on this newly acquired feud. In the latest instalment, while talking to Submission Radio Covington took the time to slam both Makhachev and his manager Ali Abdelaziz.

Covington and Abdelaziz have shared a serious mutual disliking of one another over the past few years.

“I’m setting up big business. Leon’s first and then it needs to be American wrestling vs. Dagestani wrestling,” Covington said. “Everybody wants to see that fight. Makhachev’s starting to run his mouth but we know his manager [Ali Abdelaziz] ‘Abdela-sleeze’ is not gonna let him get in my crosshairs. He can say whatever he wants to the media but he doesn’t really mean it. Makhachev knows I’d smack the s**t out of him. He wouldn’t be able to mess with raw American steel. He’s nothing more than a sheep herder.” (H/T MMAFighting)

Covington is convinced that if the pair were to be matched up, it would be one of the biggest fights that the promotion could make.

“I think it would be the biggest and best spectacle the UFC could put on and that’s what we want to do; the biggest and best fights,” continued Covington. “The guy definitely walks around at more weight than I do. I just choose to fight closer to my natural weight. I don’t want to cut all that weight to get the advantage. I’d like to see him come up and test himself.”

Colby Covington with Submission Radio

If they both win their next fights, would you like to see Colby Covington Vs. Islam Makhachev?

Bobby Green makes shocking cheating accusation in UFC: ‘The Russians be cheating right now, no disrespect’

Slated to headline UFC Vegas 80 this weekend ahead of a blockbuster UFC 294 card next week in Abu Dhabi, UAE, lightweight staple, Bobby Green is picking former-foe, Islam Makhachev to defend his title successfully in the Middle East – for the sole reason that according to him “Russians be cheating” under the promotional banner. […]

Green, a former opponent of recently crowned undisputed lightweight champion, Makhachev, makes his return to the Octagon this weekend atop UFC Vegas 80, taking on the streaking American Top Team product, Grant Dawson over the course of five rounds.

Last time out, Green snapped a losing skid with a one-sided victory over former interim champion, Tony Ferguson back in July at UFC 291, landing a third round arm-triangle submission win over the Oxnard veteran.

And dropping a first round TKO loss to Makhachev back in February of last year, Green made some outlandish claims regarding the power and ability of the former, bordering on claims of malpractice and nefarious doping.

“I found this little video and it said Islam had a little trouble with drugs, but I don’t see people talking about him,” Bobby Green said. “He was saying that when he first came over that his school that he trained at in Russia, they just gave him vitamins. They’d been doing this since who knows when – when you start training.”

“Imagine if you give someone steroids from the age of 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 – how strong you would be,” Bobby Green continued. “People are like, ‘He was really strong.’ It makes sense now. There’s two people that I’ve moved around with and I was like, that’s interesting. I’ve moved with thousands of guys, that was interesting. I told my coach, ‘There’s something interesting about Islam.’ I felt it. That’s just not human. It makes sense.”

Bobby Green claims Russian fighters under the UFC are “cheating”

And appearing to double down on those accusations ahead of his return this weekend, Green claimed that as a whole – Russian fighters under the banner of the UFC are cheating and have been cheating for some time.

“I’m gonna go with Islam (Makhachev) [to beat Charles Oliveira] and the only reason I’ll say that is – you should be on the motherf*cker,” Bobby Green said on the Jaxxon Podcast. “You should see behind the scenes. Why do they [the UFC] keeping sending ‘em over to Abu Dhabi, you know what I mean?”

“The Russian be cheating right now,” Bobby Green explained. “No disrespect to none of the Russian people if you my fans. I f*ck with you, but I be seeing some funny sh*t that I’m like, ‘Oh.’ Because I know people all around and in different sections and stuff. For instance, Khabib (Nurmagomedov) and Islam and them, they go to a mosque. They train in some place where you can’t be – USADA can’t go, you can’t come in here. For months they can do whatever they wanna do.”

What are your thoughts on Bobby Green’s bold claims this week?

Justin Gaethje tipped to fight Islam Makhachev for title after UFC 294: ‘He made a statement and earned his spot’

According to his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, former interim lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje will challenge for undisputed divisional gold should his fellow client, Islam Makhachev prevail at UFC 294 next weekend in a title rematch with Charles Oliveira – claiming the promotion are chomping at the bit to pit Gaethje and Makhachev together. Gaethje, the current […]

Gaethje, the current number two ranked lightweight contender, is riding a two-fight winning run, most recently stopping fellow former interim champion, Dustin Poirier with a second round high-kick KO win at UFC 291 back in July in the pair’s symbolic BMF championship rematch.

And earlier this year, Gaethje stopped the surge of lightweight striking talent, Rafael Fiziev, bringing a halt to his seven fight winning streak with a close, majority decision win back in March at UFC 295 in a London co-headliner.

Justin Gaethje expected to fight Islam Makhachev after UFC 294

According to the above-mentioned Dominance MMA staple, Abdelaziz, however, should Makhachev defend his crown against Oliveira in their Abu Dhabi re-run – Gaethje would then challenge the Russian for undisputed gold.

“If Islam (Makhachev) wins, he will fight Justin Gaethje next,” Ali Abdelaziz told The Schmo during a recent interview. “This is what we want, this is what the UFC wants. Justin Gaethje earned it, too. You don’t go out there and knock out Dustin Poirier like that and don’t get a title shot. I think Justin made a statement and he earned his spot.”

Attempting to knock back the surge of Oliveira as soon as next weekend in the Middle East, Makhachev managed to scoop the vacant lightweight crown against the Brazilian back in October of last year with a second round arm-triangle submission win.

And back in February atop a UFC 284 card, Makhachev defended his championship in a close decision win over pound-for-pound best and featherweight champion counterpart, Alexander Volkanovski in Perth, Australia.

Who wins: Islam Makhachev or Justin Gaethje?

Khabib Nurmagomedov set to finish training Islam Makhachev for UFC 294 title fight: ‘He’s gonna be here’

Despite taking a distinct step away from the coaching side of the sport in the last year, former undisputed lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov is set to be on site in the remaining two week of teammate, Islam Makhachev’s training camp – to help prepare the current champion for his rematch title defense against Charles Oliveira […]

Nurmagomedov, a former undisputed lightweight champion himself and staple at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California, guided training partner and close friend, Makhachev to the vacant lightweight throne back in October of last year, with the latter submitting former champion, Oliviera with a second round arm-triangle submission in.

However, electing against travelling with Makhachev for his February title defense against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284 back in February, Nurmagomedov had taken a further step back from the sport he himself had retired from back in 2020.

Khabib Nurmagomedov set to train Islam Makhachev for UFC 294 title fight

And yet to make a return to corner work for Makhachev ahead of UFC 294 next weekend against Sao Paulo finishing ace, Oliveira, Nurmagomedov has been confirmed as travelling to the Middle East to help Makhachev put the finishing touches on his training camp.

“He (Khabib Nurmagomedov) will come tomorrow, train with us in the camp,” Islam Makhachev told ESPN MMA during a recent interview ahead of UFC 294. “He’s not going to be my corner coach, but he will be here to help… we come here, like 40 guys, the whole team. I don’t know fight day where he’s going to be, but next two weeks, he’s gonna be here.”

“I miss the time when we were training together, when he (Khabib Nurmagomedov) had fight, when I had fight,” Islam Makhachev explained. “But when he become coach like two years, one year ago, he pressure us very hard, you know? We did drills, almost ten rounds sparring. And after all this work, after one and a half hours, he says, ‘Okay, now five rounds grappling.’”

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