Charles Oliveira is ready to negotiate his next step in his UFC run. The former UFC lightweight titleholder lost a closely fought battle with Arman Tsarukyan on UFC 300’s featured main card. While ‘Do Bronx’ is currently reeling from his loss, he does not plan to be on the sidelines for long. Consequently, as such, he’ll welcome any challenge he gets – even at welterweight.
This comes in light of Conor McGregor making his return to welterweight; he has fought at 170 once. McGregor faces Michael Chandler in a 5-round welterweight headliner at UFC 303 (pay-per-view, ESPN+). Oliveira has already expressed interest in facing him. Meanwhile, UFC 302: Makhachev vs Poirier decides who title challenger Tsarukyan faces. Without all the big names tied at 155 pounds, welterweight seems a good opportunity for the Brazilian.
There’s so much going on [at lightweight now], so I don’t want to rush things. I just fought, it was recent. I have no injuries but everybody knows that a camp is a camp. I want to take it slow… Why not [to welterweight] …take a fight that will lead us to money and history and legacy? Why not move up in weight and do a big fight? A fight that makes sense and gives us money? Why not?
Charles Oliveira to Guilherme Cruz (@guicruzzz) for MMAFighting on SBN (Brazil) Trocação Podcast
Charles Oliveira’s lightweight scrap with Arman Tsarukyan had heavy implications for the top contender spot. However, his manager, Sayat Abdurakhmanov, later said that Tsarukyan refused a quick rebound for UFC 302. Hence, Islam Makhachev now faces 30-fight veteran Dustin Poirier in a lightweight battle for the title gold. Oliveira wants to justifiably utilize a full camp to heal up rather than rush into the title contention scene again.
Welterweight provides many talents and opportunities. Additionally, he also had 155-pound peer Justin Gaethje in mind for a rematch; Gaethje similarly lost at UFC 300 in his BMF title match. The former BMF titleholder voiced his reasons for taking at least half a year to rebound after his fiery 5-rounder. Oliveira understands his reasons and supports him wholeheartedly.
Waiting for Justin Gaethje does not align with Charles Oliveira’s future plans
Charles Oliveira fought hard for the top contender’s spot for the lightweight gold at UFC 300. However, Arman Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) cost him his spot with an equally well-fought affair. ‘Do Bronx’ is taking a time out rather than jumping into the crowded lightweight title contention picture. He’ll soon fly to Rio de Janeiro to corner his Chute Boxe peer Elves Brener against Myktybek Orolbai at UFC 301 on May 4.
Charles Oliveira stands by Justin Gaethje’s intentions to fully recover after UFC 300 (Source: dailypost.ng/IMAGO)With both him and Justin Gaethje being essentially out of the title contention ladder for a while, he had gunned for the former foe. Oliveira submitted Gaethje back in 2022 but considers a rematch an interesting notion. However, if Gaethje decides to take an extended amount of break, Oliveira wouldn’t criticize that decision.
He’s not wrong, You don’t have to fight to show off to people or anything like that, you have to fight when you’re well… [Taking time off is] not my idea, I want to fight way earlier than that, so [waiting for him] doesn’t align with what I’m planning on doing…
Charles Oliveira to Guilherme Cruz (@guicruzzz) for MMAFighting on SBN (Brazil) Trocação Podcast
Gaethje, 35, got his 2-win streak snapped after a vicious buzzer-beating knockout from Max Holloway at UFC 300. The violent last-second overhand flatlined ‘The Highlight;’ consequently, it was of such epic proportions that it also unanimously won the MMA Junkie’s Knockout of the Month for April. Distancing and leaning back into Holloway’s strikes, he had also suffered a major spinning heel kick nose-blow and a couple of pokes.
While the Brazilian would have rebounded sooner, he sympathizes with Gaethje’s notion of healing back before performing to the fullest again. With all major players at 155 engaging elsewhere, Oliveira thus means to expand to welterweight for better opportunities.
