When Islam Makhachev faced Charles Oliveira, the matchup carried a fascinating question.

Could the most dominant grappler in the lightweight division control the most dangerous submission artist in UFC history?

The answer came through positional awareness, timing, and composure in high-risk grappling exchanges.

Here are the key situations that decided the fight.

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1️⃣ Oliveira’s Guard Pull and Triangle Attempt

How Oliveira Created the Entry

Early in Round 1, Oliveira looked for a way to initiate grappling on his terms.

Makhachev repeatedly threw looping overhands to stop Oliveira from closing distance and cutting the cage. The strikes weren’t purely offensive. They functioned as range control.

At 4:31, Oliveira stepped inside with his lead foot and began entering punching range. Islam anticipated another striking exchange and fired another overhand.

That moment was exactly what Oliveira wanted.

Instead of continuing the striking exchange, Oliveira immediately clinched Makhachev’s body and pulled guard, forcing the fight to the ground.

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The Triangle Setup

Pulling guard against a Dagestani wrestler is risky, but Oliveira’s strategy relied on submissions rather than positional dominance.

After establishing closed guard, Oliveira began raising his legs, waiting for a triangle opportunity.

Makhachev recognized the threat and raised his posture. While that posture protects against pressure, it also creates space between the arms and torso.

Oliveira used that space to shoot his leg over Makhachev’s shoulder and initiate the triangle.

For a brief moment, the submission looked dangerous.

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How Makhachev Escaped

Makhachev reacted immediately.

He inserted his hand inside the triangle before Oliveira could fully lock his legs. That small frame prevented the choke from sealing.

With the space created, Islam slid his second arm inside and broke the leg connection entirely.

The submission threat was neutralized.

Key principle:
Against elite submission specialists, early hand positioning often matters more than explosive escapes.

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2️⃣ The Osoto Gari Trip Against the Fence

Later in the round, Oliveira pushed Makhachev toward the cage and secured an underhook in the clinch.

From this position, Oliveira tried to pressure forward.

Makhachev stayed defensive but threw a knee to bait a reaction.

Oliveira responded with a knee of his own.

That response created a brief moment where Oliveira’s base was not fully re-established after landing.

Makhachev capitalized instantly.

He stepped his leg outside Oliveira’s lead leg and executed a textbook Osoto Gari trip, pulling Oliveira backward while controlling the upper body.

Because Oliveira had just reset his stance after the knee, his weight distribution was unstable. Combined with Makhachev’s grip control, the trip sent him to the mat.

Key principle:
Many elite takedowns come from timing opponents during stance resets, not brute force entries.

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3️⃣ The Knockdown That Changed the Fight

Round 2 began with Oliveira using a similar approach as before.

He stepped aggressively into range, looking to initiate exchanges that could lead to another guard pull or clinch.

This time, however, Makhachev adjusted.

Instead of meeting Oliveira directly in the pocket, he pulled slightly backward and prepared to counter.

While pressing forward, Oliveira attempted a jumping front kick — a technique he had used several times throughout the fight.

The problem with airborne attacks is defensive vulnerability during landing.

When Oliveira’s feet returned to the mat, his guard had not fully reset.

Makhachev immediately threw a right hook.

The punch landed clean on Oliveira’s chin and knocked him down.

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4️⃣ The Arm Triangle Finish

Unlike many strikers who avoid engaging with Oliveira on the ground, Makhachev followed him immediately.

Oliveira attempted to recover using open guard, but Makhachev applied constant pressure.

He passed to half guard and positioned his head underneath Oliveira’s far arm — the perfect setup for an arm triangle choke.

Oliveira tried to defend by breaking his half-guard lock and attempting to insert his knee between their bodies to create space.

Unfortunately for him, this defense removed the last layer of leg control.

Without the half-guard trap, Makhachev was able to pass fully and tighten the choke.

From there, the arm triangle was inevitable, also the tap.

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Why Islam Makhachev Won the Fight

The fight highlighted a critical difference between the two fighters.

Oliveira’s game relies on creating submission chaos.

Makhachev’s game relies on positional control and patience.

Throughout the fight, Islam Makhachev consistently:

• Recognized submission threats early
• Maintained strong posture and hand positioning
• Timed takedowns and trips during stance resets
• Applied relentless top pressure once the fight hit the ground

By Round 2, those layers of control created the opening for the knockout and eventual submission finish.

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Final Analysis

Facing the most dangerous submission fighter in UFC lightweight history, Islam Makhachev didn’t avoid grappling.
He dominated it.

The triangle escape, the clinch trip, and the arm triangle finish all demonstrated the same underlying principle:

Control first. Finish second.

That approach secured one of the most decisive victories of Makhachev’s career.