Javier Mendez: Both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev would dominate Charles Oliveira

Javier Mendez has no doubt that two of his star students would be a nightmare matchup for UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.

Being that he’s currently retired, former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov won’t be able to put that theory to the test, but American Kickboxing Academy’s rising star and Nurmagomedov protege Islam Makhachev is well on his way to earning that opportunity.

Makhachev (21-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) faces Beneil Dariush in the main event of a UFC Fight Night event on Feb. 26 and if victorious, could emerge as the next title challenger at 155 pounds. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Mendez thinks both Nurmagomedov and Makhachev’s grappling would be too much for Oliveira.

“I know they both would beat Charles, in my opinion because look, they’re both my fighters,” Mendez said. “Stylistically-wise, Islam could strike, he can kick. Khabib wasn’t a great kicker. Khabib would have to go straight to the grappling with Charles and probably dominate him there. As a matter of fact, I know he would. I know Khabib would dominate him there, and I kind of feel, my personal opinion, as great as Charles is, I think Islam would dominate him there. too.”

In a recent interview with ESPN, Nurmagomedov lauded Oliveira (32-8 MMA, 20-8 UFC), who recently notched his first title defense when he submitted Dustin Poirier at UFC 269. With Makhachev and Oliveira owning two of the longest winning streaks in the division, Nurmagomedov said he hopes Oliveira is champion when Makhachev gets to a title shot.