Ali Abdelaziz predicts Islam Makhachev and Beneil Dariush would finish Charles Oliveira

MIAMI – Ali Abdelaziz thinks either Islam Makhachev or Beneil Dariush should fight Charles Oliveira for the title, because they won’t fight each other next.

Makhachev (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) was slated to face Dariush (21-4-1 MMA, 15-4-1 UFC) in the UFC Fight Night 202 headliner in February, but wound up facing Bobby Green next when Dariush withdrew due to an ankle injury. Makhachev ran through Green in Round 1.

On the other side of the bracket, ex-champ Oliveira was forced to vacate his 155-pound title after missing weight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 274. With Oliveira submitting Gaethje, the division no longer has a champion.

Oliveira against Makhachev or Dariush next seems logical. Abdelaziz, who managed both fighters, would like to see one of his clients get the next shot rather than rebooking the original matchup.

“One of these guys need to fight for the title,” Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie. “When the UFC booked them to fight for the title, I was all for it. No. 1 contender match, they come back in July, Beneil was not ready. Now they have to make a decision. Of course I’m gonna make a case for every one of them because I’m not gonna favor anybody.”

He continued, “UFC doesn’t even have a champion. There’s no division. How you’re gonna have a No. 1 contender and Charles Oliveira is the No. 1 contender?”

Whoever ends up getting the fight, Abdelaziz is confident that Makhachev or Dariush would stop Oliveira (33-8 MMA, 21-8 UFC), who has won his past 11 fights with 10 stoppages.

“I believe both will finish him,” Abdelaziz said. “I think Islam gonna submit him. I think Beneil can submit him too. Beneil can knock him out and submit him. I think Islam definitely can submit him and dominate him. Islam can make him look like an amateur, one hundred percent. Beneil is a little bit crazy, he likes to fight. He’s more gonna get maybe wild with him, catch him, put him to sleep.”

He continued, “When you see the odds come out Islam is -450. Beneil would be favorite too, I think he should be favorite. At the end of the day, I love both guys, Beneil and Islam. If the UFC make a decision, they can’t make wrong. If they go with Beneil, I’m OK with it. If they go with Islam, I’m good with it.”