Longtime Charles
Oliveira coach Diego Lima believes “do Bronx” is the most
logical contender for the next lightweight title shot.
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Oliveira was dethroned by Islam
Makhachev via second round submission at UFC 280 on October
2022 in Abu Dhabi. Oliveria subsequently knocked out Beneil
Dariush to earn an immediate rematch against Makhachev at the
same venue a year later at UFC 294. However, “do Bronx” was forced
out on 10 days’ notice due to a gruesome cut suffered in sparring.
The Brazilian was replaced by Alexander
Volkanovski, who suffered a brutal head kick knockout against
Makhachev.
Oliveira then dropped split decision against fellow contender
Arman
Tsarukyan in a title eliminator at UFC 300. While Tsarukyan was
offered an immediate title shot against Makhachev, who was adamant
on fighting in the summer, “Ahalkalakets” turned it down due the
quick turnaround.
Although Makhachev had expressed interest in fighting Justin
Gaethje as well, “The Highlight” suffered a lopsided TKO loss
against former featherweight champ Max
Holloway at UFC
300. The title shot ultimately went to Dustin
Poirier courtesy of stoppage win against Benoit St.
Denis at UFC
299 this past March.
Poirier gave Makhachev a run for his money en route to a
fifth-round submission loss in the main event at UFC 302
on June 1. Makhachev is next expected to defend his title at
UFC
308 in October in Abu Dhabi. While Tsarukyan should ideally be
the next title contender, the Armenian is currently suspended for
throwing a punch at a fan at UFC 300. With Tsarukyan out of action,
Lima has made it clear to the UFC that Oliveira is eyeing the next
title fight against Makhachev.
“They talked a lot, we talked. I told him my idea, what I would
like. But now we have to wait for them to also come up with what
they think for Charles,” Lima told Ag.Fight (translation via Championship Rounds). “They really like Charles. They
want the best for Charles. And I certainly made it clear that we
wanted to return to the belt path. Both Charles and I want the
belt.
“Now with Arman suspended, there would be no name other than
Charles
Oliveira. Charles is second in the rankings and if you look at
the rankings, there’s no one to fight with Makhachev. Poirier just
fought, Gaethje also got knocked out. So the truth is that with
Arman out of the game I believe there is no one at 155 to fight
Makhachev other than Charles.”
While the NSAC banned Tsarukyan for nine months, it will be reduced
to six months if he participates in an anti-bullying public service
announcement, making him eligible to compete by Oct. 12 — two weeks
ahead of UFC 308 on Oct. 26.