UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev clarifies that he made no demands to rematch Charles Oliveira in Abu Dhabi.
Oliveira (34-9 MMA, 22-9 UFC) will run things back with Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) in the UFC 294 headliner on Oct. 21 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Their first fight also took place in Abu Dhabi, where Makhachev submitted Oliveira to claim the vacant belt last October at UFC 280.
Oliveira recently said he doesn’t think it’s fair to have to fight Makhachev in Abu Dhabi again, but Makhachev reminded him that he traveled to enemy territory for his first title defense against Alexander Volkanovski in Perth, Australia.
Charles, I asked to fight in US in the summer, but UFC has other plans, I am a UFC fighter like you,never set the conditions for the UFC and fought where they offered, my last fight took place in Australia at the challenger’s backyrd, simple, everything you say makes no sense
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) October 2, 2023
“Charles, I asked to fight in US in the summer, but UFC has other plans, I am a UFC fighter like you, never set the conditions for the UFC and fought where they offered, my last fight took place in Australia at the challenger’s backyard, simple, everything you say makes no sense.”
Volkanovski gave Makhachev arguably the toughest test of his career but was ultimately outlasted after five rounds of a tightly contested affair. Meanwhile, former champion Oliveira earned another shot at Makhachev by snapping Beneil Dariush’s eight-fight winning streak with a first-round TKO at UFC 289 in June.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.
