Former UFC champion Charles Oliveira has laid out his two-fight plan for this year which involves a rematch with Islam Makhachev.
Oliveira, 33, lost his lightweight title when he was submitted by Makhachev at UFC 280 last October. Makhachev will make the first defence of his belt against featherweight titleholder Alexander Volkanovski next month as the Australian looks to become a two-weight champion.
'Do Bronx' turned down a spot on the UFC 283 pay-per-view event which took place in his native Brazil this past weekend as he wanted more time to prepare for his next fight. The 33-year-old insists he wouldn't change his approach for a second fight with Makhachev and credits a "bad night" for his loss to the Russian.
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"With all due respect, I had 10 minutes off on a bad night,” Oliveira said. “I wouldn’t change anything to fight Islam Makhachev. This fight will happen again. Be sure of that, this fight will happen. I’ll fight in April or May, no matter who that is. God will bless me with a win and I’ll have my rematch with Islam Makhachev by the end of the year.”
“We have to aim high. Maybe fight in the United States in May and then come back to fighting in Brazil by the end of the year. If it’s in Sao Paulo even better and who knows, maybe fight for the belt again. That would be great.”
Oliveira was unbeaten in almost five years heading into his fight against Makhachev, who hasn't lost a fight in the UFC since 2015. There are several big fights to make for Oliveira at lightweight, such as rematches with Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler or a clash with No.4 ranked contender Beneil Dariush.
The Brazilian is hoping to book a fight in May and then fight for the 155lb title again at the end of the year, ideally in his hometown of Sao Paulo. No pay-per-view event has been announced for May yet, but it's expected that UFC 288 will take place that month.
“There’s no point coming in thirsty and not thinking with the head, to think with the heart,” Oliveira added. “If I were to think with my heart I would definitely be part of this card,. It was offered a fight, and I thought quite a lot about it, but the timing is fighting in May and maybe fight for the title in Sao Paulo by the end of the year. Let’s make it happen.”
