Charles
Oliveira has responded to Arman
Tsarukyan’s claim that he only has one way to finish a
fight.
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Tsarukyan recently indicated that Oliveira is overly reliant on the
rear-naked choke in his fights. In an interview with Diego Ribas
from Ag.Fight, Oliveira answered his UFC
300 opponent.
“People have to be concerned with the way they sell fights. I’m 14
years in the UFC, having 21 submissions and 10 knockouts and
44 MMA fights. If he really believes all I can do is take my
opponent’s back and [get the choke], he better be careful not to
get his back taken and submitted. Actually, I don’t care what my
opponents say,” a smiling Oliveira said.
Oliveira is expecting a difficult fight against his American Top
Team-trained opponent. The lightweight bout will be contested over
five rounds and is considered to be a title eliminator.
„Of course I had [my team] studying my opponent´s game, but my
focus has always been what I can take to him not what he can bring
to me,” Oliveira said.
During the interview, Oliveira recalled a past sparring session
with Alex
Pereira, who will headline UFC 300 against Jamahal
Hill. At the time, “Poatan” was not yet in the UFC.
„It was a long time ago when he visited Chute Boxe. We did a great
sparring, then we went to lunch together and I joked I hope to one
day have Poatan’s heavy hands, and he answered that one day he
hopes to have Charles’ ground skills. It’s amazing to be able
to meet him again on the main card of such a historical UFC.”
Charles also talked about his pregnant wife, Vitoria.
„I´m living a unique moment,” he said. “I dreamed a lot about
having a baby boy, since I already have my daughter Taila. I’m
really happy, motivated. Fighting is fighting. Anything can happen,
but I´m coming to this one with a very special energy.”