Should Charles Oliveira earn an underdog win at UFC 300, ‘do Bronx’ has set out his timeline for a UFC lightweight title rematch against Islam Makhachev.
We are only a few days away from the biggest PPV card in UFC history and whilst the 155lb belt doesn’t feature at UFC 300, the event could very well determine who is next in line for Islam Makhachev – and importantly, when that next title shot could arrive.
The lightweight title picture remains open to a number of contenders
After Charles Oliveira was forced to withdraw from his October 2023 title fight against Islam Makhachev with injury, many within the MMA community expected the rematch to be re-booked in short order.
Yet as we enter our final countdown to UFC 300, the lightweight title picture remains open to potentially three very different contenders: Dustin Poirier, the winner of Justin Gaethje vs Max Holloway, and the winner of Charles Oliveira vs Arman Tsarukyan.
Should Oliveira earn another dramatic upset win this weekend at the T-Mobile Arena, the Brazilian superstar has confirmed that he won’t step in against Makhachev in the summer.
Charles Oliveira eyes UFC title rematch against Makhachev in late 2024
Speaking to Diego Ribas of AgFight.com, Oliveira noted that whilst Arman Tsarukyan remains an incredibly difficult opponent, overcoming ‘Ahalkalakets’ on such an enormous PPV would indeed result in a title shot, “Surely, winning now [means] I’m next in line.”
Despite the champion teasing that his return fight will be later in the summer, Oliveira has dismissed the idea of him jumping in in just a few months’ time; explaining that he ideally wants to face Islam Makhachev nearer the end of 2024:
“I believe that at the end of the year, I will fight again for the title, that’s what I’m planning, that’s what I’m focused on. I believe so [it will be at the end of the year] – October, November, December, it should be more or less this time.”
Oliveira also pushed back on Makhachev calling out multiple opponents at once, since the pair were officially booked to face each other less than six months ago:
“[Islam wants to fight in June] Yes but he didn’t say my name, right? [Do you think he’ll fight someone else] I don’t know, he’s actually saying a lot of things. He challenges the guy from 61kg, 57kg, but he doesn’t talk about me. So, it’s a bit complicated.”
The former lightweight champion doubled down on his view that he should be next for the 155lb title at the pre-fight media day, should he get his hand raised on Saturday evening:
“Dana [White] even said that I’m next in line and then I got injured, and then Islam is allegedly injured as well, so let’s just wait and take it one thing at a time. [We’ll] get this win on Saturday and then we’ll talk about it.”
Tom Aspinall makes official prediction for Oliveira vs Tsarukyan
Whilst Arman Tsarukyan is the betting favorite heading into UFC 300, it appears that the majority of fellow UFC fighters are siding with the Brazilian to earn an underdog upset – including Tom Aspinall.
Speaking via the Spinning Backfist YouTube channel, the interim heavyweight champion noted that the lightweight clash is his most highly anticipated fight of the entire card:
“I think that’s such an interesting fight grappling-wise…I think Oliveira will win, yeah I think he’s just got so many different finishes but it’s such a pick-‘em fight that it could go either way.”
Aspinall, who recently spoke out against Ciryl Gane for the way he conducts himself, noted that “I think it’s difficult to say when you’re a fan of somebody, it’s difficult to bet against them,” before ultimately siding with the Brazilian: “Oliveira, for what he’s done in the sport, I just love him.”
Charles Oliveira takes on Arman Tsarukyan on the main card of UFC 300 – catch all the action this Saturday live on PPV.