Islam Makhachev defeated Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 and fulfilled a prophecy his late-coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov had predicted. It was a feat many did not think he could handle but he not only beat the former champion but he did it in just two rounds.
- Amy Kaplan
FanSided Editor
What we’ll remember about this fandom a decade from now
No one will be able to forget seeing Khabib Nurmagomedov (the former champion) scaling the cage walls and rushing Islam just seconds after the win. The moment was especially poignant due to the fact that Khabib retired as champion in the very same arena just 2 years prior and was now celebrating his friend and mentor holding his old title. Not a dry eye among us.
How this fandom is changing sports
With Islam's win, we now know that Dagestani fighters are the real deal and Khabib was not the exception. A new era is coming.