After a controversial weigh-in cost him the UFC lightweight championship the day before UFC 274 in May, Charles Oliveira has a return date in place. On October 22nd. ‘Do Bronx will return with the chance to recapture lightweight gold against No. 4 ranked contender Islam Makhachev. The two lightweights will clash at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Before the controversy surrounding the UFC 274 weigh-in, Charles Oliveira had expressed a strong interest in facing ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor once the Irishman makes his eagerly-anticipated return to the Octagon. The last time we saw McGregor in competition was more than a year ago at UFC 264. The former two-division world champion suffered a broken leg in the closing moments of round one against Dustin Poirier in the event’s headliner.
Speaking to EPSN’s Brett Okamoto, Oliveira was asked why he is interested in facing Conor McGregor, the Brazilian superstar said:
“I like the narrative. It would be perfect. We’ve been asking for this fight in Brazil so hopefully, it works out.”
When asked if he believes a fight between himself and Conor McGregor will for sure happen in 2023, Oliveira responded with confidence that their paths will cross in the coming year.
“I really do. The sole reason why I accepted this fight [with Makhachev].
“I know the more victories, the better the chances so this is a step towards that fight.”
Early rumors suggest that Conor McGregor would return to face Charles Oliveira this coming January. With ‘Do Bronx’ currently scheduled for a lightweight world title fight with Makhachev in October at UFC 280, the former lightweight world champion was asked if he could make that quick of a turnaround.
“Yes. I’d like to leave the Octagon [at UFC 280] already knowing who I’d be fighting next.”
Charles Oliveira Advises Conor McGregor to Watch His Words When They Meet in Brazil
Should things go Charles Oliveira’s way and he gets Conor McGregor in his home country, ‘Do Bronx’ sent a warning to the former dual-world champion: Be careful what you say about Oliveira in Brazil.
“Well, I’d advise him to take very good care of what words he uses, especially when referring to me,” Oliveira said.
Conor McGregor largely built his brand by adopting a brash attitude and implementing a level of trash talking that, in some opinions, takes things too far. The most recent example of this was his feud with Dustin Poirier. In 2021, the two fighters squared off on two separate occasions. In the first outing, McGregor was unusually calm and respectful to his opponent. After getting knocked out halfway through the second round, McGregor deployed some new tactics.
Much of McGregor’s aim was at Dustin Poirier’s family, claiming that his wife had DM’s the Irishman for some type of perceived illicit activity. While Poirier and his wife largely laughed off the claim. It was another item on a laundry list of over-the-top antics by McGregor who has gone from throwing water bottles at a press conference to property damage and borderline assault by throwing a dolly through a bus window, injuring onboard UFC fighters in the process.
