Coach: Charles Oliveira should earn title shot with finish over Max Holloway

Max Holloway is riding the second-longest winning streak (6) in the UFC featherweight division, behind 145-pound champion Jose Aldo, and Charles Oliveira wants to use that as his last step towards a title bout.

Winner of his last four, including three submissions, “do Bronx” faces Holloway in the main event of UFC Fight Night 74 in Saskatoon, Canada, on Aug. 23, and his coach Ericson Cardozo believes the winner of Oliveira vs. Holloway should be the next in line for the gold.

“I think he should fight for the title next,” Cardozo told MMAFighting.com. “We know Frankie Edgar is ahead in the rankings, but Holloway and Charles are coming up and haven’t fought for the title yet.

“Edgar fought Aldo for the title before, Chad fought him twice, so the UFC wants new challengers, and both Charles and Holloway are up there. I believe the winner of this fight should get a title shot next, and that would be great.”

Oliveira went 2-2 in his first four fights since dropping to 145 pounds in the UFC, losing to top contenders Frankie Edgar and Cub Swanson, but has looked unstoppable since, defeating Nik Lentz, Jeremy Stephens, Hatsu Hioki and Andy Ogle.

“do Bronx” will enter the first five-round fight of his MMA career against Holloway, but his coach doesn’t see it lasting more than 15 minutes.

“This fight won’t last five rounds,” Cardozo said. “Actually, watching the way Charles and Holloway fight, I think it won’t go past the third round.”

Holloway chocked Cub Swanson and Andre Fili in his current six-fight winning streak, but Cardozo expects him to avoid a grappling fight with Oliveira.

“I don’t think Holloway will try to take Charles down,” he said. “He has a great striking game. I believe the majority of the fight will be standing. He won’t try to take Charles down, and will try to defend Charles’ takedowns. I see this being a stand-up war, at least in the first round. Holloway has a good ground game, but I don’t see this being a risk for Charles.

“Holloway is tough, but it’s a good match-up for Charles. He’s a brawler, so it’s going to be an interesting fight. We’re working differently since the Frankie Edgar fight and it paid off. Charles has won four in a row now and this is a great opportunity for us.”

Max Holloway is riding the second-longest winning streak (6) in the UFC featherweight division, behind 145-pound champion Jose Aldo, and Charles Oliveira wants to use that as his last step towards a title bout.

Winner of his last four, including three submissions, “do Bronx” faces Holloway in the main event of UFC Fight Night 74 in Saskatoon, Canada, on Aug. 23, and his coach Ericson Cardozo believes the winner of Oliveira vs. Holloway should be the next in line for the gold.

“I think he should fight for the title next,” Cardozo told MMAFighting.com. “We know Frankie Edgar is ahead in the rankings, but Holloway and Charles are coming up and haven’t fought for the title yet.

“Edgar fought Aldo for the title before, Chad fought him twice, so the UFC wants new challengers, and both Charles and Holloway are up there. I believe the winner of this fight should get a title shot next, and that would be great.”

Oliveira went 2-2 in his first four fights since dropping to 145 pounds in the UFC, losing to top contenders Frankie Edgar and Cub Swanson, but has looked unstoppable since, defeating Nik Lentz, Jeremy Stephens, Hatsu Hioki and Andy Ogle.

“do Bronx” will enter the first five-round fight of his MMA career against Holloway, but his coach doesn’t see it lasting more than 15 minutes.

“This fight won’t last five rounds,” Cardozo said. “Actually, watching the way Charles and Holloway fight, I think it won’t go past the third round.”

Holloway chocked Cub Swanson and Andre Fili in his current six-fight winning streak, but Cardozo expects him to avoid a grappling fight with Oliveira.

“I don’t think Holloway will try to take Charles down,” he said. “He has a great striking game. I believe the majority of the fight will be standing. He won’t try to take Charles down, and will try to defend Charles’ takedowns. I see this being a stand-up war, at least in the first round. Holloway has a good ground game, but I don’t see this being a risk for Charles.

“Holloway is tough, but it’s a good match-up for Charles. He’s a brawler, so it’s going to be an interesting fight. We’re working differently since the Frankie Edgar fight and it paid off. Charles has won four in a row now and this is a great opportunity for us.”