Deposed UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira wants a piece of the man he replaced. Undefeated, retired Hall of Fame inductee Khabib Nurmagomedov is showing no signs of returning to competition, but that didn’t stop “Do Bronx” from calling the former champ and his protege, Islam Makhachev, out. “If they really want it, they need to chase the champion.
I chased the champion, right?! Then I became the champion. I want to fight in December. Do you really want this?! So let’s do something cool. Now I’m talking to you. Let’s fight in January in Brazil? Isn’t that what you really want? So sell it more. But look at this, Khabib, you’ve already tried three premonitions about me and missed all three.
Oliveira Calls out Khabib: “He’s Been Talking Too Much”
Look, I won’t say I’m going to submit or knock him out, but I’ll beat him. Listen to this, I will beat Islam Makhachev. The division’s problem is called Charles Oliveira. That’s the division’s problem. It doesn’t matter what they say. If they really want it, I want it, too. Look, forget about Conor McGregor now, forget it.
In Brazil, Charles Oliveira against Islam Makhachev. Is this the fight you want? So we will have it. Charles Oliveira against Islam Makhachev in Brazil.”
Oliveira continued, describing exactly how he wants to take out the fearsome Dagestanis. He sees himself defeating first the student, then the master, before a baying home crowd in Brazil.
“I’ll beat him (Makhachev). So who knows, maybe you come of retirement and come too?! Each one says what they want. I am the division’s problem. I have one of the best jiu-jitsu [games] in the division and in the UFC. I think these guys are talking too much. They want to get in my mind, but that’s not possible.
The guy was champion, 29 wins in a row, and never said anything. He always sold the fight in a good way, really damn well and today he is always talking a lot. If it’s to talk, I’m gonna say it.
I’ll beat Islam Makhachev and then challenge Khabib to come back from retirement. It’s the fight everyone will want to see. Isn’t that what everyone will want to see? Everyone says Khabib is f****** tough. I respect him a lot, but lately, he’s been talking too much.”
Seeing a clash of the titans between jiu-jitsu and Russian sambo at lightweight certainly is intriguing. Can Charles Oliveira tempt Khabib out of retirement? Let us know in the comments.
