Charles Oliveira wants to beat Islam Makhachev at UFC 280 in October so that he has time to build a January bout with Conor McGregor for the lightweight title.
The Irishman's UFC return is officially being pushed back to next year, but he could return at UFC 283, the promotion's major pay-per-view in Rio de Janeiro on January 21. And Oliveira believes there would be no bigger headliner than his homecoming title defence against McGregor.
The Brazilian is not currently the lightweight champion after being stripped of the belt for missing weight by half-a-pound ahead of his last defence against Justin Gaethje. But he did beat Gaethje comfortably, as well as stopping Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler, so he is still considered the best lightweight and will enter as the A-side for his October 22 meeting with Makhachev.
He admitted in a recent interview with ESPN that he is desperate to make the McGregor fight happen, despite the Irishman going 1-3 since winning the 155lb belt over half a decade ago. “I like the narrative,” Oliveira explained. “It would be perfect. We’ve been asking for this fight in Brazil so hopefully, it works out. I really do [think it will happen next year]. That’s the sole reason why I accepted this fight [with Makhachev]. I know the more victories, the better the chances so this is a step towards that fight.
“I’d like to leave the Octagon already knowing who I’d be fighting next. I’d advise [McGregor] to take very good care of what words he uses [in Brazil], especially when referring to me." The Irishman visited Brazil during the promotional tour for his fight with Jose Aldo in 2015, where he was greeted by surprising fanfare. He pushed his luck by tearing up a photo of the famed featherweight champion in front of a crowd of fans, but was generally well-received.
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But it's likely that he would face resistance if he came to the country to fight their new champion at lightweight in Oliveira. Public sentiment towards McGregor in general has changed a lot since 2015, and fans would likely be less receptive to his brash attitude.
Before any such fight could be made, Oliveira must first get past one of the most difficult tests the lightweight division has to offer in Makhachev. The Russian hasn't lost since 2015, and is currently on a lengthy win streak that has made him one of the most feared fighters at 155lb.
Makhachev will have something of a home advantage when he faces Oliveira in Abu Dhabi, having a massive following in the Middle East due to his connections to Khabib Nurmagomedov. The former lightweight champion is always in his pal's corner, and will again make his presence felt at UFC 280.
