Islam Makhachev is convinced Charles Oliveira initially was trying to dodge him.
Makhachev (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) meets Oliveira (33-8 MMA, 21-8 UFC) for the vacant lightweight title in the UFC 280 main event Oct. 22 in Abu Dhabi. But Makhachev says there were talks of Michael Chandler sliding into the equation.
Oliveira was stripped off his lightweight title for missing weight prior to submitting Justin Gaethje at UFC 274 and was already a lock for the next title bout. But the Brazilian was trying to lure Conor McGregor into the fight and didn’t think the streaking Makhachev had earned a title shot. According to Makhachev, the UFC was going to give him Chandler had Oliveira not accepted the fight.
“For me, this is embarrassing when UFC lightweight champion asks (for) someone like Nate Diaz or Conor McGregor,” Makhachev said on ESPN’s “DC & RC.” “Conor McGregor, who won five years ago – nobody remembers when these guys win some fights. He tried to go Diaz or McGregor, but he forgot my name. And when they asked about me, he said he needs money or something like this, but when he fought Dustin (Poirier) or Justin Gaethje, he didn’t think about money.
“He said, ‘Islam has to fight one more time,’ or something like this. But the UFC told him, ‘Hey, if you (don’t) take this fight, we’re going to give some chance to Michael Chandler.’ That’s why he take this fight.”
When told by the show’s co-host and training partner Daniel Cormier that money is important, Makhachev mocked Oliveira for his inability to speak English which he thinks is hindering his marketability.
“I don’t know. I don’t understand this guy,” Makhachev said. “He tried to make money, but this guy doesn’t speak English. Nobody understands this guy. He doesn’t speak English. English is important if you want to make money. You have to speak some language everybody understands. Nobody understands what he’s saying.”
