Conor McGregor vs. Charles Oliveira would have been TUF matchup if 'do Bronx' had this one ability: Coach
Charles Oliveira has long rallied for a big-money matchup against Conor McGregor during his lightweight championship reign. However, 'do Bronx' has now stopped calling out McGregor, who he accuses of chickening out quite a while back.
However, Oliveira's manager-coach Diego Lima claims that the Brazilian was very close to being pitted against McGregor as a rival The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) coach. 'Notorious' is slated to coach Season 31 of TUF, which airs May 30 to Aug. 15, opposite Michael Chandler.
McGregor and Chandler will also subsequently meet in a welterweight matchup that doesn't have a date yet. As per Lima, Charles Oliveira could have been in Chandler's position if he was an English speaker. Lima recently told Eurosports commentator Alvaro Colmenero:
"If Charles knew English, the UFC would have liked to make TUF between him and Conor McGregor".
🧐 Diego Lima: «Si Charles supiera inglés, a la UFC le habría gustado hacer el TUF entre él y Conor McGregor»
🫣 Diego Lima: "If Charles knew English, the UFC would have liked to make TUF between him and Conor McGregor".
Via - KOlmenero
@UFCEspanol #UFC
Oliveira hasn't fought since his lopsided title loss against Islam Makhachev at UFC 280 last year. The former lightweight champion is now reportedly set to return to the octagon against Beneil Dariush at UFC 288 on May 6.
Charles Oliveira accuses Conor McGregor of chickening out
Charles Oliveira called out Conor McGregor in the immediate aftermath of his win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 274 in May last year. While McGregor initially seemed open to the idea, he had no dearth of opponents calling him out.
Oliveira continued to reiterate his callouts towards 'Notorious', which mostly went unanswered as the Irishman cruised around in his Lamborghini superyacht. While 'do Bronx' isn't optimistic about the matchup, he is still open to the big payday that a McGregor fight promises.
However, Charles Oliveira believes 'The Notorious' chickened out long back and now only handpicks his opponents. The former champion said in a presser leading up to UFC 283:
"I've asked for this fight and he says nothing, and I won't say it anymore. When he wants it, I'm ready... Conor McGregor chickened out a long time ago, he picks his fights. He's right to avoid me because he knows what would happen."
Charles Oliveira: Conor McGregor chickened out a long time ago, he picks his fight. He's right to avoid me because he knows what would happen.
Charles Oliveira on fighting Conor McGregor: I've asked for this fight and he says nothing, and I won't say it anymore. When he wants it, I'm ready.
Jose Aldo jokes that McGregor is big now that USADA "isn't knocking on his door."
Michael Chandler also called out McGregor on the same night as Oliveira after securing a jaw-dropping highlight-reel KO win over Tony Ferguson.