5 reasons why Charles Oliveira could beat Khabib Nurmagomedov

#2. Charles Oliveira doesn’t mind being put on his back

Charles Oliveira is more than happy to fight off his back in the octagon

There’s a chance Charles Oliveira would find a way to take Khabib Nurmagomedov down in a hypothetical fight between the two. However, it’d be much more likely that ‘The Eagle’ would be the one to wind up on top in a grappling exchange.

In his previous UFC outings, once he was on top, it was hard to stop Khabib. Opponents such as Conor McGregor, Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier were unable to get up from underneath the Dagestani, who then destroyed them with ground-and-pound en route to submission finishes.

If Khabib were to put Charles Oliveira down, would he find it quite as easy? It’s highly unlikely.

The likes of Demian Maia, Ronaldo Souza and Rodolfo Vieira brought more Brazilian jiu-jitsu credentials with them to the octagon, but Oliveira is the man who has the most submission finishes in UFC history with 15.

Of those 15 submission wins, eight have come from the bottom position or from a scramble that initially saw Oliveira taken down.

Put simply, few fighters in UFC history have been as comfortable fighting off their back as ‘Do Bronx’. Therefore, if Khabib Nurmagomedov were to take him down, would he be able to work him over as he did to the likes of Gaethje and McGregor?

It’s highly doubtful. Instead, it could be Khabib who might be forced onto the defensive.

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#1. Charles Oliveira would offer Khabib Nurmagomedov the biggest submission threat he’s ever faced

Charles Oliveira would offer Khabib Nurmagomedov the biggest submission threat of his UFC career

In his initial run in the UFC, Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated a total of 13 different opponents, including some of the greatest lightweights in UFC history.

However, it’s worth noting that while ‘The Eagle’ was able to run through the majority of his foes, he never really faced many high-level grapplers in the octagon.

In fact, of his 13 victims, it’s probably fair to class at least at least seven of them – including Conor McGregor, Justin Gaethje and Edson Barboza – as almost pure strikers.

While the likes of Rafael dos Anjos and Thiago Tavares had strong grappling skills, Khabib never faced a submission artist as skilled as Charles Oliveira.

Not only is Oliveira capable of wrapping an opponent up in a submission from seemingly any position – whether he’s on top or on his back – but he’s also proven himself willing to go for low-percentage moves.

‘Do Bronx’ is one of the few fighters to utilize an anaconda choke to submit an opponent in the octagon – using the hold to defeat both Hatsu Hioki and David Teymur. He was also the first fighter to ever use a calf slicer to submit an opponent.

Essentially, in a prospective fight between the two. Oliveira would offer Khabib the biggest submission threat that he’s ever faced inside the octagon – and there’s a real question mark over how ‘The Eagle’ would be able to respond.

If his submission defense wasn’t up to snuff, there’s no doubt that Charles Oliveira could wrap him up and force him to submit.