Charles Oliveira puts Justin Gaethje in his place.
Charles Oliveira has told Justin Gaethje to pipe down following ‘The Highlight’s’ claim that ‘Do Bronx’ made a ‘laughing stock’ of the lightweight division in his title fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 262.
Oliveira submitted Chandler to win the vacant lightweight strap but Gaethje doesn’t believe the Brazilian should have been challenging for the title in the first place.
Oliveira responded by highlighting the fact that he went into the Chandler fight riding an eight-fight win streak as well as holding multiple UFC records including the most submission wins (14) and most finishes (17) in the promotion.
“What I have to say to Gaethje is do your job, win your fights and get your opportunity, just like I did and make it happen,” Oliveira told Sherdog in a recent interview. “I’m going to be here with my belt. When you get nine straight wins you may complain with Dana. Nine months ago, I was top seven, asking for an opportunity against a top-five contender. Ten days before UFC 256, Ferguson’s opponent got hurt and I was in shape ready to accept the UFC invitation.
“After completely dominating Ferguson, I conquered my title shot,” Oliveira continued. “I did 28 fights in the UFC in the last 11 years, I was coming from eight consecutive wins, I have the bonus record of UFC, I beat the record of submissions of Royce Gracie and Demian Maia in the organization. If I didn’t have the right to fight for the belt, who should have? If I’m the champion today, it is because I fought a lot for that.”
Gaethje hasn’t fought since his submission defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 while Oliveira has rattled off nine straight victories, broken multiple UFC records, and become the undisputed lightweight champion.
Gaethje will return to the octagon to take on Chandler at UFC 268 while Oliveira is expected to defend his title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 269.