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Before anyone starts chuckling at the headline, let’s begin by stating that longtime lightweight veteran, Charles Oliveira, is the winner of five straight, four by submission and one by technical knockout, so it’s not outrageous to suggest he’s in the mix.
“Do Bronx” is currently ranked No. 13 at 155 pounds.
Oliveira (27-8, 1 NC) believes he can pose a different threat than what most lightweight contenders have been offering the undefeated “Eagle.” That’s because he’s not afraid to go to the ground, where the Brazilian can work his world-class jiu-jitsu game.
“I can’t say anything about Khabib, he’s been defeating everybody,” Oliveira told Ag Fight. “He beat all the top guys but they’re all strikers, none of them were jiu-jitsu guys who were unafraid of being taken down. I’m the answer to his game, I’m the right guy to fight Khabib, I think that, if I win two more fights, who knows, I might have this opportunity to fight him. It would be great since I have my jiu-jitsu and I’m not afraid of being taken down.”
Before Oliveira can start planning for a 155-pound title fight, he must first get past lightweight bruiser Jared Gordon at the upcoming UFC Fight Night 164 mixed martial arts (MMA) event, which takes place this Sat. (Nov. 16, 2019) in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
That’s merely a start.
Nurmagomedov has bigger fish to fry in 2020. Not only does he need to deal with longtime nemesis Tony Ferguson, there have been talks about a potential super fight against ex-welterweight kingpin Georges St-Pierre.
Still, I can’t help but wonder who would win that battle of Sambo vs. jiu-jitsu.