Islam Makhachev Submits Charles Oliveira in Round 3 to Retain UFC Lightweight Title

Islam Makhachev successfully defended his UFC lightweight championship on Monday night, submitting Charles Oliveira with an arm-triangle choke at 4:17 of the third round in the main event of UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, settling their rivalry with a dominant grappling performance that showcased his elite ground game.

The 32-year-old Dagestani champion controlled the majority of the contest with his superior wrestling and positional dominance, repeatedly taking Oliveira down and advancing to dominant positions. Makhachev's patience and technical precision proved decisive as he methodically broke down the Brazilian's defense before securing the fight-ending submission.

"This was about proving I'm the best lightweight in the world," Makhachev said during his post-fight interview. "Charles is a legend and former champion, but tonight showed the difference in our levels. My wrestling, my pressure, my conditioning - everything was better. I want to continue defending this belt and building my legacy as one of the greatest lightweights ever."

Oliveira started aggressively, landing several clean strikes in the opening round and briefly stunning Makhachev with a left hook midway through the first period. However, the champion's relentless takedown attempts and control time gradually wore down the former titleholder, who struggled to get back to his feet once the fight hit the canvas.

The decisive sequence began in the third round when Makhachev secured a takedown against the cage and immediately transitioned to side control. Despite Oliveira's desperate attempts to escape, the champion maintained his position and slowly worked his way into the arm-triangle position that would end the fight, demonstrating the suffocating pressure that has made him such a dominant force.

Makhachev's victory was his third successful title defense and further cemented his position atop the lightweight division's hierarchy. With potential challengers like Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier waiting in the wings, the champion's dominant performance sends a clear message that he intends to hold onto the belt for the foreseeable future. His combination of elite wrestling, improved striking, and championship experience makes him one of the UFC's most complete fighters and a worthy successor to his teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov's legacy of Dagestani dominance.