Javier Mendez has some of the best Russian lightweights training at his MMA gym, AKA. He has two very big names in Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. He spoke about the two potentially facing current lightweight UFC champion, Charles Oliveira.

Javier Mendez is obviously going to be on the side of his two UFC fighters. He admitted as much when talking about the hypothetical fights in his latest interview.

“I know they both would beat Charles, in my opinion because look, they’re both my fighters,” Mendez said in an interview with MMA Junkie. “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,” he added.

“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.”

Charles Oliveira is known as one of the greatest submission artists in UFC history. The current lightweight champion has shown the ability to snatch up submissions from anywhere.

The matchups with Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov would be very interested as it puts Sambo up against jiu-jitsu. The UFC lightweights would be putting their elite ground skills to the test against each other.

Khabib Nurmagomedov is not expected to return to the UFC after retiring and moving on with his career outside of the organization. Islam Makhachev has a very real possibility to eventually fight Charles Oliveira.