Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira has been advised to delay his return and already, one always-game ‘Gamer’ has staked his claim.
Following a razor-close decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan on the main card of UFC 300, former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira is already being called out for his return – and it makes perfect sense for the division.
Charles Oliveira ‘open’ to move up from lightweight to welterweight
Charles Oliveira has already been in the news this week after revealing that he’s open to a change of division up to welterweight, noting that when it comes to his career moving forward: “We have to think, breathe and calmly think about what we will do.”
“We have to think about it and discuss it and talk to the organization and think about it, why not move up in weight and do a big fight? A fight that will make history, a fight that will make sense and bring money, why not?”
Prior to UFC 300, Oliveira’s coach Diego Lima teased that there’s one man who could tempt ‘do Bronx’ into a big-money move up to 170lbs; ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor – however, as the former lightweight champion plots out his next move, he’s also been told by his team to slow his roll.
Charles Oliveira called out by ‘Gamer’ following delayed return
Speaking via the Ag.Fight YouTube channel, Oliveira revealed that in the immediate aftermath of his UFC 300 loss, his desire to get quickly back into the octagon had to be quelled by coach Diego Lima:
“I left there wanting to fight and still continue with that mentality of fighting…I wanted to fight in International Fight Week, which is in June, and [Diego] Lima stopped me, said calm down and breathe.”
“The team said take a breath, so that’s what I’m doing – I’m breathing, I’m calm,” said the 34-10 veteran, before sharing that “I want to fight in July [or] August.”
Only a matter of hours after the interview was posted online, Oliveira was called out for a return bout in that July-August window by 24-2 lightweight contender Mateusz ‘Gamer’ Gamrot.
Taking to social media, Gamrot simply responded to the clip by stating: “Let’s Go!!! I’m ready in July / August.”
In terms of the divisional rankings, a fight between the Brazilian submission specialist and the Polish wrestler would certainly make sense- with Charles Oliveira retaining the #2 ranking, and Mateusz Gamrot currently occupying the #5 spot.
Gamrot was also the last man to beat surging prospect Arman Tsarukyan, who defeated Oliveira at UFC 300; as well as being the only contender inside the top seven not to have already faced ‘do Bronx’ in the octagon.
Given the starpower at play, Gamrot vs Oliveira would likely feature on a PPV with events falling in that window being UFC 304 in Manchester (July), UFC 305 in Perth (August), and UFC 306 at The Sphere in Las Vegas (September).
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‘Do Bronx’ offers early prediction for Makhachev vs Poirier
Yet by the time that Oliveira makes his return to the UFC octagon, the top of the lightweight tree might look quite different with champion Islam Makhachev set to defend his 155lb title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302.
That PPV event will take place on Saturday, June 1 from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and will be Poirier’s second shot at earning an undisputed UFC title.
Speaking via the Full Violence YouTube channel, Oliveira shared his early prediction for how that fight will go down; having faced both Poirier and Makhachev already in the UFC:
“We’re talking about MMA [and] MMA is unpredictable. You know that anything can happen, right?… But, we’re talking about the style game, a guy who’s a puncher, who has a hard hand. who has a very nested boxing style which is Dustin Poirier against [Makhachev], who’s been evolving on the feet, but his strength is wrestling, sambo.”
“I think the fight is more on Islam’s side of taking him down, smothering him. But we’re talking about Dustin Poirier, a guy who’s also enlightened [and] a guy who punches hard,” noted the former UFC lightweight champion, before ultimately siding with the Russian to retain his title:
“So, we’re talking about MMA, it’s complicated. But I think Islam will stay champion.”
Islam Makhachev vs Dustin Poirier is the main event of UFC 302, scheduled for June 1.