Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira proposed not to fight Ilia Topuria now. Instead, a title match is on his mind since Oliveira believes he has earned the chance to fight for the UFC lightweight championship again.
Chael Sonnen happened to be the one who delved into this matter, with information he got from his chat with Oliveira’s manager.
Chael Sonnen Unveils Plans of Oliveira
Chael Sonnen, a witness to the burning blazing secret in MMA, has commented on Oliveira’s plans.
Sonnen says he spoke to Charles Oliveira’s manager, who confirmed Oliveira isn’t considering a fight with Ilia Topuria. According to his manager, Oliveira is only interested in a title shot and feels he deserves it.
Oliveira is Resolute about the Title Shot
Charles Oliveira is very vocal about wanting to challenge for the lightweight title again and feels another shot at championship gold is warranted by his performance.
The UFC journey of Oliveira has since then been a remarkable one, with wins over the elite like Michael Chandler. He had lost just last week in a very close fight to Arman Tsarukyan; nonetheless, things took a turn when Tsarukyan had to withdraw from a scheduled fight with Islam Makhachev due to injury.
Now Oliveira looks to zip in and challenge Makhachev for the lightweight title.
Oliveira’s Fight Record
Oliveira has performed significantly well throughout his career at UFC. Some of the vital fights and major wins are;
- Victory Over Michael Chandler – A stellar win that crowned him the lightweight champion of UFC.
- Loss Against Arman Tsarukyan – A very close, one-sided match that would fall in Tsarukyan’s favor.
- Islam Makhachev’s opponent next – As Tsarukyan pulled out of his title fight due to injury, Oliveira felt this was his chance to step into action.
Reasons Why Oliveira Should be Granted A Title Shot
Many MMA analysts and fans claim that Oliveira has done all he could, but this entitles him to a shot at the title again. Not only has his performance been good in the octagon, but his ability along with resilience to bounce back from setbacks also makes him a strong candidate to challenge Islam Makhachev.
Furthermore, Oliveira already has some history with Makhachev and would love to settle things again with him.
Probable BMF Title Scrape with Max Holloway
Of course, Oliveira is after the UFC’s lightweight title but also might have something going with Max Holloway for a BMF Title.
Oliveira has made himself very clear; he won’t fight unless there is a championship on the line. The only way he might consider Topuria is if Oliveira first gets his shot through the title and wins it.
What Next for Charles Oliveira?
With Oliveira adamantly contesting for the title, it becomes the next step for the UFC to decide whether to let him have that opportunity. Of course, should the matchmakers at the UFC push for putting together a lightweight title fight between Oliveira and Makhachev, they can schedule some very electric action between two of the best in this division.
Scenarios:
Oliveira versus Makhachev for the Lightweight Title – Should the UFC matchmaker throw in Oliveira’s name for the title shot, he would face Islam Makhachev for the lightweight championship.
Oliveira vs. Holloway for the BMF Title – Should Oliveira not land on the lightweight title shot, he may still potentially fight Max Holloway for the BMF belt.
A Fight Against Ilia Topuria is Possible – If Oliveira wins the title, he might one day face Ilia Topuria but only under championship conditions.
UFC Will Decide What to Do Next?
For the moment, UFC still hasn’t confirmed Oliveira’s next opponent. However, if Oliveira gets unmovable for this match, then they might have no other option than to pen him for a title shot.
The lightweight division is generally the most competitive of the entire bunch in the UFC, while Oliveira’s return to title contention adds more fuel to the fire of the division.
Conclusion
As simple as that, he wants the title shot and nothing less. Now Ilia Topuria wants to accept the predicament of Charles, and the UFC’s consideration of geographical match-ups around the world leaves only the fan to wait and see what comes next.
This might lead to an epic clash between Oliveira and Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title, should all go well for the Brazilian.