Charles
Oliveira is certain that a win over Arman
Tsarukyan should earn him the next lightweight title shot.
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Oliveira is scheduled to take on surging Armenian-Russian contender
Arman
Tsarukyan (21-3) at UFC
300 on April 13. Meanwhile, the same card features Justin
Gaethje’s BMF title defense against Max
Holloway.
While some believe the BMF title fight winner might create a
stalemate in the lightweight title picture, Oliveira is certain
that a win over Tsarukyan earns him the next gold bid.
“Not at all, I don’t even think about that,” Oliveira said in an
interview with MMA
Mania. “Everyone knows that I’m the next one in the line so I’m
gonna be the next one to get the title, and I’m ready for it.”
While Oliveira acknowledged the skillset of both fighters, “do
Bronx” expects Gaethje to best Holloway.
“Man, Holloway is a really nice guy, and he moves a lot,” Oliveira
said. “He has a type of game that he moves a lot, but Gaethje also
has a strong hand. If Holloway gives the opportunity, Gaethje for
sure will win this fight. But both are very good.”
As if the lightweight title picture wasn’t confusing enough, Dustin
Poirier re-emerged with a brutal knockout win over up-and-coming
Frenchman Benoit St.
Denis at UFC
299 earlier this month. Makhachev has since expressed interest
in defending his strap against “The Diamond” in June.
However, Oliveira remains confident of rematching Makhachev next if
he can get his hand raised at UFC 300.
“I don’t even think about that, to be honest. This is information
that comes from the internet, and people talks a lot on the
internet,” the 34-year-old said. “I’m not worried about that. I
know that I’m the next in line. So, that’s it.”