UFC lightweight title contender Islam Makhachev is reportedly “very upset” with his UFC 280 opponent, Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira. Oliveira’s interest in fighting Conor McGregor got under Makhachev’s skin, as the surging lightweight revealed on DC & RC.
“Charles is very good, he has a good win streak, he beat a lot of tough opponents, but for me, it’s embarrassing when the UFC lightweight champion asks for someone like Nate Diaz or Conor McGregor, who [last] won like five years ago.
Makhachev “Very Upset” with “Embarrassing” Oliveira Angling for McGregor Fight
Nobody remembers when these guys win some fights. He tried to call [for] Diaz, McGregor, but he forgets my name. And when they ask about me he says he needs money or something like this.
But when he fights with Dustin [Poirier] or Justin Gaethje, he doesn’t think about money. Now when he says he has to fight Islam, he either tries to say, ‘I want to fight in Brazil, I want to fight in the end of this year, or I need some money.’”
Oliveira won’t be headlining in Brazil any time soon. First, he needs to face Islam Makhachev and, presumably, win, in order to have the bargaining power necessary to headline a card before a home crowd.
“Yeah, [he’s making excuses]. This is embarrassing because he said Islam has to fight one more time or something like this. But UFC told him, ‘Hey if you do not take this fight, we’re going to give the chance to Michael Chandler.’ That’s why he took this fight.
He’s lost in the UFC seven times. He’s not gonna be upset if he loses one more time. People finished him seven times in the UFC and this guy’s champion in my division. I’m very upset because of [this].”
The main event at UFC 280 is a fascinating grappling matchup. Makhachev’s high-pressure wrestling will be pitted against Oliveira’s lethal jiu-jitsu, with this kind of sensational grappling face-off an increasing rarity in the modern MMA era. This is precisely what makes Makhachev believe he’s such a dangerous opponent for Charles Oliveira.
“Everybody who says Dustin Poirier or Justin Gaethje or other guys … they’re all guys that are old, they have money, they don’t challenge. We have new blood. Me, [Mateusz] Gamrot, Beneil Dariush, these are really tough guys for him. Because Dustin Poirier or Justin Gaethje, they’re never grappling, just striking. That’s why this is easy fight for him. But he knows Islam Makhachev is a very hard fight for him.
All fighters who he beat, all striking. I’m gonna take him down very fast. Listen, Tony Ferguson had a little bit of grappling, he couldn’t finish him. Tony Ferguson was a hard fight for him. He fought all [three] rounds because Tony Ferguson knows something about grappling, not too much, but he knows something.”
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