UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling thinks Charles Oliveira should be included in any conversation about the greatest lightweight of all time.
To many, that title is currently held by undefeated former UFC champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, but Sterling sees former champ Oliveira (34-9 MMA, 22-9 UFC) closing the gap.
“Greatest of all time, the GOAT, what’s the criteria for that?” Sterling asked on his YouTube channel. “Is it just accolades? Because if it’s just accolades, Charles Oliveira has a pretty damn good resume. From title defenses, style points on finishes, been in the game longer.”
Oliveira made quick work of the streaking Beneil Dariush in this past Saturday’s UFC 289 co-main event and now holds finishes over every fighter currently in the UFC’s top-five lightweight rankings. His 20 UFC finishes is also the record for most stoppage wins in company history.
Based on his resume and his past 11-fight winning streak, which was snapped by lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 280, Sterling makes a case for “Do Bronx.”
“So for me, I think he has to be within that conversation,” Sterling added. “You have to include Charles Oliveira in that against Khabib. The next best thing right now seems like it’s Makhachev closing in. I’m really looking at title defenses and then winning streak, as well.
“Not like your entire career, I’m talking like in the UFC. Getting those type of win streaks in the UFC, it’s very difficult to do. And seeing someone bounce back from an ‘L’ the way that Oliveira has done time and time again in his career, there’s something to be said about that.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 289.
