Charles Oliveira claims potential title clash between Islam Makhachev and Justin Gaethje "doesn't make sense"
Charles Oliveira does not approve of the potential lightweight title clash between Islam Makhachev and Justin Gaethje.
Last week, Makhachev took to X to declare his three-fight plan for the upcoming year. He called out several contenders at 155 pounds and wrote this:
"June 8 UFC PPV vs Gaetje, November UFC MSG vs Olivera/Arman, February 2025 vs Anybody Inshallah."
'The Highlight' had a superb 2023 season, with a victory over Rafael Fiziev in the Fight of the Night at UFC 286 before landing a perfect head kick that knocked out Dustin Poirier at UFC 291.
Many believe that he is the standout contender for a shot at Makhachev's title, but Oliveira does not agree. During a recent interview with MMA journalist Diego Ribas, 'do Bronx' said this:
"I was told [Makhachev] was coming back from an injury. One of the main things I've learned is that these guys are all learning to play the game... Maybe this fight with Justin Gaethje will happen, it could be. But honestly, I don't think so. I think it's a fight that doesn't make sense. But there's nothing else to talk about. I was told that he was only looking forward..."
Listen to Charles Oliveira's comments below:
Arman Tsarukyan is confident that Charles Oliveira's jiu-jitsu won't be effective at UFC 300
Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan are set to face off at UFC 300 in an epic lightweight clash.
Oliveira is regarded as one of the deadliest Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners in MMA and holds the record for the most submission wins in UFC history. But Tsarukyan, a talented grappler himself, is confident that Oliveira's BJJ won't be effective when the pair meet.
The Georgian is coming off of an impressive KO victory over Beneil Dariush at UFC Austin last year and is riding a wave of confidence. During a recent interview with Daniel Cormier, Tsarukyan explained why he believes he will nullify Oliveira's ground game, saying this:
"If we are going to do jiu-jitsu like without ground-and-pound, of course, he maybe can like get any submission, but when you punch someone, he can't think about like, 'Oh, I have got to get his arm or whatever.' He has got to defend himself."
He continued:
"You've got to [beat him up for] like 15 to 20 minutes and then when he gets tired you can finish, but in the first two rounds it's almost impossible to choke [a] high level fighter."
Catch Arman Tsarukyan's comments below (25:00):