Over the past few days, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has announced several major and anticipated fights at once, promising to become a highlight of 2022.
It has already become known about the fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Nate Diaz, which will be the last for the American under the current contract with the promotion and can draw a line under his career in MMA.
But the battles with the participation of Russian stars of the light and lightest divisions are of the greatest interest.
So, Islam Makhachev will finally fight with Charles Oliveira, and Peter Yan will face off against Sean O'Malley.
Moreover, both fights will take place as part of the tournament in Abu Dhabi, which is traditionally considered the homeland of domestic athletes.
Since 2019, the UFC has held four major events in Abu Dhabi between September and October, and almost every one of them was filled with fights involving Russians.
In total, 18 representatives of the country spoke at them, and the same Zubaira Tukhugov fought there three times.
In addition, it was in the UAE that Khabib Nurmagomedov himself held the last two title defenses.
In 2019, he dealt with Dustin Poirier, and a year later he defeated Justin Gaethje, after which he announced his retirement from the sport.
It is all the more symbolic that it is there that the star of his teammate and friend Makhachev can really light up.
A few months ago, it was difficult to imagine the development of events in which their meeting with Oliveira would take place in 2022.
The reason for this is the firm desire of Dana White to bring Makhachev together with Beneil Dariush, the sixth number of the division, who is currently experiencing the prime of his career.
And there was logic in that.
Despite an impressive ten-fight winning streak, Islam had never fought a top-level opponent before, which led many to doubt his legitimacy as a contender.
However, the recovery of the American from the injury was delayed, the pressure of the public was growing.
And in the end, even the president of the UFC trembled under him.
He suddenly changed his mind and nevertheless appointed the Russian to a duel with the Brazilian for the vacant belt.
His Oliveira lost due to a failure at the weigh-in before the battle with the same Gati.
Of course, the main reason for White's decision is the huge hype around Makhachev.
This was partly confirmed by Dana himself, saying that everyone wants to see this confrontation.
Yes, and it is difficult to adhere to the original position, when the Russians are called the strongest in the division around, and even Joe Rogan asks to let him compete for the trophy.
But at the same time, few will say that he is not worthy of claiming the trophy.
His dominating performances in the octagon have long made him compared to Nurmagomedov, and his lack of fights with strong opponents is largely due to an unfortunate set of circumstances.
Is it his fault that Dariush injured his ankle in preparation for the show, and Rafael dos Anjos first caught the coronavirus, and then preferred the battle with Paul Felder?
Yes, it's hard to imagine
But it is precisely the lack of experience in major fights that does not allow us to name a clear favorite in the duel between Oliveira and Makhachev.
After all, earlier the paths of Islam did not intersect with any fighter of this level.
Gleison Tibau and Davi Ramos are dangerous fighters, but at the time of the fight they were already past their peaks and were not in the best shape.
Dan Hooker and Bobby Green are nominally strong in striking technique, but the first spent only 37 seconds in an upright position, after which he suffered on the ground for almost two minutes, and the second came out on short notice and did not show everything he was capable of.
Yes, and here Islam did not give the opponent many chances and at the first opportunity transferred him to canvas.
Oliveira is not only dangerous in both aspects, but is one of the best in the division.
In recent years, he has become much more unpredictable in the stance and cut on equal terms with Poirier and Gaethje, and in Brazilian jiu-jitsu he has practically no equal.
No wonder he is the champion of the promotion in terms of the number of wins by surrender (16), noticeably ahead of all competitors.
The second line is shared by Demian Maia and Jim Miller (11), and this despite the fact that both had more fights in the UFC.
And if Charles's compatriot ended up in a cage three times more (33), then the American's track record includes 40 battles under the auspices of the organization.
The only question is whether Oliveira will be able to demonstrate his strongest qualities in a confrontation with such an intelligent and diverse opponent as Makhachev.
After all, in it he will not be able to use a number of trump cards that provided him with an advantage in fights with Porrier and Gaethje.
Unlike them, Islam is unlikely to arrange a reckless exchange of blows in the stance and certainly will not avoid a fight.
On the contrary, it is the constant pressure in the stalls that can bring him success.
As Daniel Cormier noted, it is these types of fighters who are the most uncomfortable opponents for jiu-jitsu specialists.
The Russian has enough physical strength and technique to control the Brazilian on the floor, and under such pressure it will not be easy for him to go behind his back or perform any other submission from his huge arsenal.
It remains to be hoped that Makhachev will be able to approach the tournament as focused as possible and not burn out.
The title of Nurmagomedov's heir obliges a lot, and the general admiration for his skill only increases the level of expectations.
As well as the fact that there is a lot at stake.
A victory will establish him in the status of the strongest lightweight on the planet, while a defeat will negate all previous achievements and can seriously break down psychologically.
Before the duel with Sean O'Malley, Peter Yan is in a similar situation.
Yes, the UFC title will not be at stake, but success may well help the Russian to make a loud statement and once again receive the status of the first contender, while the third defeat in a row risks throwing his career back a couple of years.
In this case, he will have to break through to the top again, and the belt can be forgotten for at least a year.
In terms of style, O'Malley might seem like a pretty comfortable matchup for Ian.
Unlike Sterling, he does not have wrestling skills and certainly will not be able to create problems for him on the ground.
On the contrary, it should not be ruled out that this time Peter himself will decide to practice grappling and drag his opponent onto the canvas.
Even though the Russian is a basic boxer, he has previously demonstrated his versatility in battles with the same Sterling, Jose Aldo and Urijah Faber.
In the first fight, he sent the future champion to the floor seven times and held it there for more than four minutes.
And if it were not for the forbidden knee strike, this could be the key to his success.
As for the rack, everything is not so clear here.
Yes, pressure, toughness and the ability to adapt to an opponent make Jan a favorite, but O'Malley should not be underestimated.
The American is famous for his timing and ability to catch opponents in oncoming traffic.
Suffice it to recall his knockouts in fights with Eddie Wineland and Thomas Almeida, whom he punished for being too enthusiastic about the attack.
And Peter will have no choice but to constantly move forward.
In anthropometry, he is noticeably inferior to Sean and will become an easy target at medium distances.
On the other hand, Ian had previously dealt with a lanky drummer, and much more versatile than O'Malley.
We are talking about Corey Sandhagen, who fought on equal terms with the Russian only during the first two rounds.
Over time, the American broke down under pressure and began to miss more and more, and at the end of the fight he looked completely desperate.
And it is not yet known how Sean, who has never been in such conditions before, will behave.
His only encounter with a top-level opponent ended with a foot injury.
One way or another, if Yang manages to achieve a confident victory, he will not only gain confidence in himself after two failures in a row, but also remind himself again.
After all, at the same tournament there will be a battle for the bantamweight title between Algemain Sterling and TJ Dillashaw, the victor of which may well become his next opponent.
Especially if it turns out to be a challenger.
They have never met before, so organizing their fight will be much easier than arranging a trilogy.