Islam Makhachev vs Arman Tsarukyan 2 is a fight the world is looking forward to, and if one man drops out, an MMA icon is willing to step up to the plate.
The sporting titans are set to go head-to-head for lightweight gold at UFC 311 on January 18, inside the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, USA.
Charles Oliveria wants to be the backup fighter for Islam Makhachev vs Arman Tsarukyan
In less than a month, the eagerly-anticipated rematch for 155-pound supremacy between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan, will finally take place.
The pair first went to war in a brutal battle at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Oleinik, back in 2019, where they entertained the fans, and earned a ‘Fight of the Night’ bonus.
Ultimately, it was Makhacehv who walked away with the victory, and has since cemented his place at the top of the pound-for-pound list.
However, while he’s become a star, Tsarukyan has been grinding away in the background, compiling a resume worthy of challenging for the belt.
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With that in mind, fans can’t wait for chapter two. And even if it falls apart, we’re likely to still get an epic headline attraction, with Charles Oliveira expressing his desire to step in.
When asked by TNT Sports, if he’ll attend the event, the Brazilian replied: “I’ll be there even if I have to sit close to the cage.”
When asked whether he’d be willing to be the backup fighter, the warrior confirmed: “If the UFC wants, why not?”
The dispute that might have resulted in Islam Makhachev suffering his only defeat
In his esteemed career, Makhachev has only tasted the bitterness of defeat on one occasion.
On a night he’d rather forget, the Dagestani was rendered unconscious by Adriano Martins, and that’s potentially because of a disagreement that occurred in camp.
What went down while the gifted athlete was preparing for the contest, has now come to light.
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