Charles Oliveira desires one other crack at Islam Makhachev and UFC light-weight gold, and he’s focusing on Worldwide Battle Week this summer time for the rematch.
Makhachev completed last-minute substitute Renato Moicano in fast trend to defend his belt at UFC 311 this previous Saturday in Los Angeles and later mentioned he desires to be a part of the pay-per-view present round June and July, a stretch Oliveira is presently campaigning for.
Oliveira’s supervisor and coach Diego Lima informed MMA Preventing that “do Bronx” provided to be the backup fighter for Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311, however the UFC informed him to “relaxation” and simply watch the bout from the entrance row. Moicano was already scheduled to compete on the cardboard and acquired the late-notice name to switch Tsarukyan in the principle occasion. Lima now sees the playing cards stacked of their favor.
“I imagine the situation remained just about the best way we imagined and needed, with Charles being the subsequent contender,” Lima mentioned. “Dana [White] mentioned Arman must do one other combat first, and there’s no level doing Arman and Charles in my view. Makhachev is our subsequent problem, however we all know he’s the champion. We rely on him to know what our subsequent step is.”
Oliveira misplaced a title combat to Makhachev in October 2022 and rebounded with a fast victory over Beneil Dariush in mid-2023. The Brazilian was slated to rematch Makhachev in October of that 12 months, however was compelled off the cardboard with a reduce. He returned in April 2024, shedding a detailed cut up resolution to Tsarukyan earlier than getting again to the win column with a victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 309.
Makhachev’s supervisor Ali Abdelaziz took to social media social to say that “the UFC has a very completely different plan for Islam which doesn’t embody Oliveira, Arman or Ilia [Topuria],”, later citing Justin Gaethje and Dariush as choices in case they defeat Dan Hooker and Dustin Poirier. Abdelaziz manages each Gaethje and Dariush.
“Each time you discuss Charles, his staff say they haven’t any curiosity, say we have to wait just a little bit extra and all that, as a result of Charles brings extra hazard to Makhachev as a result of he has good grappling,” Lima mentioned. “‘However he misplaced the primary combat.’ Cool, we misplaced, however I imagine that any individual that understands preventing is aware of how harmful Charles is. In the event you blink, he catches you.
“Many individuals say that as a result of they like to combat some other folks however Charles, somebody that brings much less hazard in a title combat. They’re defending their aspect. Charles is totally harmful and unpredictable. In the event you blink, he catches you. Charles well-trained and motivated is a harmful combat for anybody. That’s why they generally keep away from him and say they need another person as a result of they know he’s a really harmful combat within the division.”
Makhachev mentioned after UFC 311 he has already cleaned out the division, and Lima has a plan B in thoughts in case the UFC and the light-weight champion in the end chooses to go a special route.
“I spoke with Charles rather a lot and he informed me, ‘Lima, I gained’t wish to wait a complete 12 months. I need Makhachev in the midst of the 12 months. I need the belt,’” Lima mentioned. “But when Makhachev solely fights in October, I don’t wish to keep out for a 12 months. I want to be preventing [in the summer] in opposition to [Max] Holloway for the ‘BMF’ belt. To remain lively, to combat for a belt, to placed on an enormous combat I deserve, after which combat Makhachev. But when Makhachev actually fights in July, that’s precisely what I need.”
