The coach of ex-Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight
champ Charles
Oliveira did not mince words about others in that division.
In the UFC, there is no champion at 155 pounds. This is due to a
dramatic episode on the scale ahead of UFC
274, where then-titleholder Oliveira missed weight. His
opponent Justin
Gaethje remained the only one of the two eligible to win the
belt at night’s end. The Brazilian came back from adversity to
submit Gaethje in the first round, and the title remained vacant.
UFC President Dana White stated that Oliveira would have a chance
to earn his throne back, and Oliveira’s coach Diego Lima spoke to
Sherdog on Wednesday about the championship picture and what’s next
for his fighter.
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“Charles did three belt disputes in 12 months, he is coming from an
11-fight win streak, has beaten all the submission records in UFC
history,” an exasperated Lima professed. “If UFC is planning to
make an event in Sao Paulo or Rio [in] December, it would make all
sense to have him here leading this card. I can guarantee if they
make Charles and Conor
[McGregor] in Sao Paulo, UFC fans will see the most exciting
and noisy crowd in UFC history.”
If the bout against McGregor – a man Oliveira called out in his
post-fight interview – does not materialize, Oliveira and his team
are keeping their eyes transfixed on rising talent Islam
Makhachev.
“Both McGregor or Makhachev would make sense,” Lima admitted. “Our
plan A would be Conor in Brazil in December; Plan B, New York [in]
November; and the last choice would be Abu Dhabi [in] October.
Charles is coming from four wars against top-five contenders.
Makhachev just faced one top 10 until now, [so] why should Charles
go to Abu Dhabi, which is almost [Islam’s] hometown, to face him
there? What did Makhachev do to have such a big advantage over a
guy who beat all UFC records and got his belt stripped due to a
mistake of the athletic commission?”
While upset at the situation that transpired at UFC 274, Lima made
sure to explain that he nor his fighter hold any ill will towards
the promotion or its president.
“We have a wonderful relationship with Dana and UFC” Lima noted,
“at the end of the day we are employees, we pretty much understand
that there are many factors involved in a decision like that. But
after all Charles did lately, it’s more than fair to listen the
champion’s opinion.”
The Chute Boxe head coach also talked about Khabib
Nurmagomedov’s recent statement, where the former champion said
Makhachev would travel to Brazil to defeat Oliveira in front of his
home fans.
“Khabib was always recognized as an example of someone who doesn’t
talk, but makes and also for hating trash talkers,” the coach
stated. “Now he is doing exactly what he criticized about McGregor.
If he is so sure that Makhachev will beat Charles, why [doesn’t he]
send a ‘double contract’ guaranteeing he would face Charles in case
of Islam’s loss?”
Lima was not finished talking about his team, however, as it has a
new recruit: UFC flyweight champion Deiveson
Figueiredo.
“I explained to [Figueiredo] that we don’t do camps here in Chute
Boxe. Here, we work as a family, where everybody helps each other,
and everybody here is open to teach and learn. He came from Belem
with his wife and kids, and we welcomed him here in Sao Paulo to be
part of the family, not to make camps.”
According to Lima, Figueiredo is still recovering from his hand
injury, and has not started any major training yet. The
organization already put together an interim 125-pound championship
bout between Brandon
Moreno and Kai Kara
France due to his injury, even though Figueiredo won his belt
back in January.
“He participated in a wrestling class and also did some technical
drills, but did not work on sparring yet,” the Chute Boxe head
coach concluded.