Charles
Oliveira is still interested in a fight against Conor
McGregor should the Irishman emerge victorious in his return
fight against Michael
Chandler.
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McGregor will return after a nearly three-year hiatus in a
welterweight matchup against Chandler in the main event at
UFC 303on June 29. Given that McGregor is 1-3 in his last four
and “Iron” is 2-3 in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship — and both have been relatively
inactive – Oliveira doesn’t think the matchup has much title
relevance. However, the former champion does acknowledge that
“Notorious” could be inching close to a gold bid with a victory
given the Irishman’s star power. And “do Bronx” believes the former
two-division champ will get the job done.
“I think that, in reality, it’s a fight that will make money for
both. That’s the reality,” Oliveira recently told Full Violence. “It’s a fight that’s going to make more
money. Of course, if Conor wins, he could take a step towards the
belt. He’s a guy who’s a huge star, but I think it’s a fight for
money… I think Conor [wins].”
Oliveira had previously called out McGregor after defeating
Justin
Gaethje via first-round submission at UFC
274 in May 2022. While the Brazilian is still open to a clash
against McGregor, he believes the Dublin native won’t accept the
bout if offered.
“Man, everyone knows. In fact, I’ve asked for this fight against
Conor a thousand times, but it’s a fight that I don’t think he
wants and everyone knows it,” Oliveira said. “I’ve said it a
thousand times. It’s a fight that will bring me a lot of money, so
I’d like it.”
McGregor is known as one of the best trash talkers in the history
of the sport, sometimes even successfully using it to get inside
his opponents’ minds. Oliveira believes he would laugh it off and
be unbothered by McGregor’s trash talk if the occasion does
arise.
“Man, in reality everyone sells the fight in a different way,”
Oliveira said. “This is the way he sells it, cursing, talking. Of
course, I’d laugh a lot. But I’d carry on the same way, head on
straight, feet on straight, sitting on the ground, that’s for sure.
I’d stretch out my hand to see if he would. Just don’t touch me, I
wouldn’t touch you.”