"He never wanted to fight in enemy territory" - When Belal Muhammad insinuated Charles Oliveira deliberately got cut to avoid facing Islam Makhachev
Belal Muhammad once suggested that Charles Oliveira intentionally sustained a cut to avoid competing in a scheduled matchup against Islam Makhachev.
Ex-UFC lightweight champion Oliveira fought Makhachev for the vacant UFC lightweight title at UFC 280 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. in Oct. 2022. Top-tier Dagestani fighters like Makhachev and the retired Khabib Nurmagomedov enjoy considerable popularity in the U.A.E. and the rest of the Middle East.
Makhachev defeated Oliveira via second-round submission to become the new UFC lightweight champion. He defended the title against then-UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski via unanimous decision in Feb. 2023.
Meanwhile, Oliveira knocked out Beneil Darish in June 2023. The Makhachev-Oliveira rematch was booked to headline UFC 294 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 21, 2023. However, around 10-11 days before the fight, Oliveira suffered a cut to his eyebrow during a sparring session and withdrew.
Volkanovski stepped in to face Islam Makhachev in a short-notice rematch and was stopped via first-round KO. Well, then-welterweight contender Belal Muhammad took to Instagram and jibed at Oliveira. The Palestinian-American Muhammad, who's trained with Makhachev and his Dagestani teammates, stated:
"Charles got what he wanted. He's not fighting in Abu Dhabi. As a fighter, you understand the game, right? The training is the hardest part. But biggest fight of your life, the biggest rematch of your life, you get a cut 10 days before the fight in your eyebrow. Who are you training with, bro?"
Muhammad recounted that training partner Anthony Pettis faced a similar eyebrow cut to the core a week before fighting Dustin Poirier. The Nov. 2017 matchup witnessed 'Showtime' suffer a mid-fight rib injury and lose to Poirier via third-round TKO.
Oliveira previously spoke about going to his opponents' home turf to fight them because they don't face him in his native Brazil. Muhammad seemingly alluded to that. Insinuating that 'Do Bronx' wanted to avoid fighting Makhachev in Abu Dhabi, he said:
"The world didn't know about it. Anthony got it surgically repaired, stitched up. It opened up in the fight. But he still went in there and fought. To me, Charles never wanted to go to Abu Dhabi. He never wanted to fight in enemy territory, as he said. He wanted it where he wanted it. Do I say he did it purposely? Who knows? But he chose not to fight."
Check out Belal Muhammad's comments below:
Belal Muhammad withdraws from UFC 310
Presently, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is expected to defend his belt in a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan. Charles Oliveira faces Michael Chandler in a rematch at UFC 309 (Nov. 16, 2024), with the winner likely entering the title picture.
Furthermore, Belal Muhammad captured the UFC welterweight title with a unanimous decision victory in his rematch against Leon Edwards in July 2024.
Belal Muhammad was booked to defend his title against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 (Dec. 7, 2024). After rumors about his withdrawal from the fight circulated, Muhammad posted multiple photographs and videos on Instagram. He explained that a bone infection in his foot forced him away from physical activity for six weeks. Nevertheless, he vowed to return soon.