Dustin
Poirier believes that the version of Charles
Oliveira he faced can dethrone Ultimate Fighting Championship
lightweight king Islam
Makhachev.
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Oliveira was coming off finishes of Michael
Chandler, Poirier and Justin
Gaethje when he was submitted by Makhachev in the second round
of their title bout at UFC 280 in October 2022. The Brazilian
bounced back with a first-round KO over Beneil
Dariush at UFC 289 in June, securing a rematch against
Makhachev.
Oliveira was 12 days away from having a chance to avenge his loss
against Makhachev at UFC 294 when a gruesome cut suffered in
sparring forced him out of the fight. Oliveira was replaced by
featherweight champ Alexander
Volkanovski, who went on to suffer a brutal first-round KO
loss.
Poirier believes “do Bronx” has what it takes to defeat the
Dagestani champ if they run it back. According to the Louisiana
native, Oliveira didn’t show up at his best when he lost the strap
to Makhachev at UFC 280.
“If Oliveira’s mindset is in, if he’s the same guy who fought me,
who fought Chandler, I think he can win that fight,” Poirier
recently told MMAjunkie.com.
“I don’t think he wanted to fight in that title fight. He looked
like he didn’t want to be there. He quit on himself, it looked
like.
“That’s my opinion. But I know personally he has the skills to beat
the best guys in the world, and he has done that time and time
again. If he goes in there with his mindset locked in, ready to go,
I think he can beat him.”