If this hug came with subtitles, Charles Oliveira might have whispered, “Bruh, you're really going to want to learn this stuff.”

Captured before UFC 310, the image was following Ian Machado Garry’s training stint at Chute Boxe Diego Lima gym in Brazil. Oliveira was later in his corner against Shavkat Rakhmonov. It wasn't enough to preserve the unbeaten record, but it may have prepped Garry for an even bigger assignment. Fast-forward to today, and Garry is set to stand opposite Islam Makhachev. Oliveira represents one half of the grappling equation. Makhachev represents the other. Sometimes a hug is just a hug. Sometimes it's the first lesson in a course you don't even realise you've enrolled in. If Garry is going to solve the Islam Makhachev puzzle, there's every chance some of what Charles Oliveira taught him will come in very handy.

December 2024

UFC 310 Fight Week

Las Vegas, Nevada