Former UFC light-weight champion Charles Oliveira can have many choices with a win in his upcoming return at UFC 309.
Oliveira will face former rival Michael Chandler within the UFC 309 co-main occasion on November sixteenth in New York Metropolis. He returns to the Octagon after a break up choice loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300.
Oliveira stays one of many UFC’s greatest stars after a memorable earlier reign because the UFC light-weight champion. He’s seeking to regain the throne after the loss to Tsarukyan and withdraw from a rematch with Islam Makhachev.
Oliveira has had McGregor in his sights for 3 years, stemming from McGregor’s 2021 return fights towards Dustin Poirier. McGregor snapped his leg towards Poirier at UFC 264, all however axing a possible ‘purple panty evening’ for Oliveira.
However, as McGregor targets his UFC return for 2025, Oliveira stays within the combine for his return opponent. A win over Chandler at UFC 309 may doubtlessly steal the McGregor struggle from Chandler.
Oliveira stays transfixed on one other light-weight title shot. If the UFC gives him each choices after UFC 309, he desires to have a assured title shot with a win over McGregor.
Charles Oliveira centered on title, not Conor McGregor
In a latest interview with MMA Combating, Oliveira picked the title over a McGregor struggle.
“Am I subsequent in line if I beat McGregor? If that’s the plan, then I’m 100% in. However when you say, ‘No, it’s a must to select one of many two,’ I’m positively going for the title,” Oliveira mentioned. “If I’ve the chance to struggle Conor and we make some huge cash, as a result of he sells rather a lot and so do I — and we might positively forehead the roofs off with this pay-per-view —, to not point out the cash off the purse, and I’m nonetheless subsequent for the belt, I’d positively do it. Why not?
“(My managers Diego Lima and Jorge Patino) know what my plan is. I would like the fights that take me to the belt,” Oliveira continued. “I’ve been posting rather a lot nowadays, ‘Ready for the boss to name,’ and the UFC positively sees that. Diego and ‘Macaco’ got here with the Chandler struggle, and I’m positively a lot nearer to the title with a win over Chandler. I’ll simply keep centered now. Chandler is tremendous robust and deserves all of the respect. He is aware of how a lot I respect and look after him, so it’s positively going to be a terrific struggle.” (h/t MMANews)
Oliveira stays centered on Chandler, however McGregor’s shadow undoubtedly can be forged over the upcoming matchup. A win over Chandler might be sufficient for Oliveira to clinch a McGregor reserving.