Javier Mendez: "There's fire in Oliveria"

Charles Oliveira will be more motivated than ever, says Islam Makhachev’s coach.

Islam Makhachev’s coach Javier Mendez has shared his thoughts on what Charles Oliveira will bring to the table in their rematch at UFC 294. Makhachev and Oliveira will clash for the second time in a year, after Makhachev submitted Oliveira in the third round to capture the UFC lightweight title at UFC 280. Oliveira, who had won nine fights in a row before facing Makhachev, bounced back with a dominant performance over Beneil Dariush at UFC 287, earning himself another shot at the belt.

Mendez said that Oliveira will be more determined and less overconfident than he was in the first fight, and that he will pose a serious threat to Makhachev’s reign.

“The fire in Oliveira. He’s going to be more motivated than ever because he misses being the champion, he misses that limelight and his fight with Dariush told you that, that he’s serious. He did things to Dariush that we didn’t think was going to happen. He just totally destroyed him everywhere. So this is a guy more determined than ever."

I’m not saying the first time around he underestimated Islam, he did not. But I think he might have been more confident than he should of, so this time around he’s not going to be over confident, and he knows Islam is the most dangerous guy he’s fought.” Mendez said.

Makhachev and Oliveira will headline UFC 294, which is scheduled to take place on October 14 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event will also feature a co-main event between Paoulo Cost and rising star Khamzat Chimaev.

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