VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira wants another crack at the man currently holding the title, Islam Makhachev.
After stopping the streaking Beneil Dariush in the co-main event of UFC 289 at Rogers Arena on Saturday evening, Oliveira finds himself back in prime position to challenge for the title. Not only did Oliveira defeat Dariush, who was promised a title shot if he won, “Do Bronx” finished him in the first round by TKO, sending a statement to the division, the promotion and the fans.
At the conclusion of the pay-per-view event, UFC president Dana White said pairing Oliveira and Makhachev again makes sense. Oliveira wants to reclaim his title again, and will be ready when the time comes.
“Look, who’s got the belt?” Oliveira said through an interpreter during the post-fight news conference. “He’s got the belt, and I want to be a champion, so I have to go through him. Of course, I want to fight him. But right now, I don’t want to worry about it. I want to go back to my family back home, relax a little bit, and let my team decide that.”
The pair first met at UFC 280 for the vacant lightweight title. Had Oliveira not missed weight by a half pound for his title bout at UFC 274 against Justin Gaethje, the fight would have been an opportunity for his third title defense. Unfortunately for Oliveira, the title situation didn’t matter because Makhachev submitted him in the second round.
With that fight behind him, and a fresh victory over one of the hottest fighters in the division in Dariush, Oliveira is feeling confident enough to enter the rematch with Makhachev without having to change his approach.
“Nothing. I would do nothing (different), just simply be Charles.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 289.
