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Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight contender Charles
Oliveira wants to go old school to determine a new champ in his
division. Oliveira, who has won his last seven bouts all by stoppage, spoke
to Sherdog on Wednesday about his thoughts on the future of the UFC
lightweight class. As Khabib
Nurmagomedov defended his title against Justin
Gaethje at
UFC 254 and retired, the belt is presumably vacant. Like many
fans, fighters and media members alike,
Oliveira believes the best way to settle it is through a grand prix
tournament.
“I [am a] guy who is coming from a sequence of seven wins, just
beat the record of most submission wins in UFC history and never
leaves the fights in judges’ hands. [I] should be at least
respected [by] receiving some opponent placed above [me] in [the]
ranking[s],” Oliviera stated firmly. “But I need to work, and when
you are in that position you get all the offers. First, they gave
me Diego
Ferreira (#8), later Beneil
Dariush (#11) and next Islam
Makhachev (#12). Some got hurt, others did not accept, and I
ended up here waiting.”
For the sixth ranked Brazilian on the UFC ranks, and
#5 lightweight on Sherdog’s official rankings, his ideal
opponent is someone like former interim champ Dustin
Poirier. Poirier is the only current top-five fighter still
active that would be coming off of a win, as Gaethje and Tony
Ferguson both lost their last bouts. As UFC President Dana
White already stated that Poirier will most likely be facing
Conor
McGregor, “Do Bronx” is expecting to face Dan Hooker or
Justin
Gaethje.
“I’m aware that I need to make one more fight to get a title shot,”
the Brazilian admitted. “But why don’t they decide [the]
lightweight division with the fights in the same event: McGregor
vs. Poirier, Tony
Ferguson vs. Michael
Chandler and myself against Dan Hooker or
Justin
Gaethje? That would be an amazing event for the fans and could
decide the future of lightweight in few hours.”
Oliveira also commented on the title fight between Khabib and
Gaethje last Saturday, and he was not impressed with Gaethje’s
performance.
“Everything happened just like I expected, all stand-up fighters
like Poirier, Conor and Gaethje panic when Khabib takes them down.
I would love to see the champion against a ground specialist like
myself or Tony
Ferguson. Certainly, it was one of the ugliest fights I’ve ever
seen. Gaethje was totally tired within two minutes.”
When asked to predict his possible next challenges in UFC, Oliveira
pointed to Ferguson as the toughest guy in the division.
“[Tony
Ferguson] is the most complete one, I believe he will beat
Chandler. About me and Gaethje, I’m a bad matchup for him [as] I
also walk forward all the time, just like Khabib did and also would
bring him trouble [on] the ground.”
Even considering that McGregor is considered a substantial betting
favorite in an oft-discussed rematch against Poirier, Oliveira does
not see how the Irishman could beat him if they ever fought.
“My style also doesn’t fit for [Conor
McGregor]. I would give him his first knockout in UFC,”
Oliveira confidently concluded.
