Tag: Charles Oliveira

An undisputed lightweight championship fight rematch between division champion, Islam Makhachev, and former champion, current number one ranked challenger, Charles Oliveira is currently in the works to headline UFC 297 on January 20. in Toronto, Canada.

Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion, was scheduled to headline UFC 294 just last month in Abu Dhabi, UAE against rival, Oliveira, until a nasty laceration suffered by the Brazilian above his right eye forced the cancellation of the set rematch.

Replacing Oliveira, featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski faced Makhachev in his own title rematch, suffering a spectacular first round high-kick and follow-up strikes knockout loss to the Russian.

Sidelined since he rebounded to the winner’s enclosure back in June, former champion, Oliveira snapped his winless run in Canada, landing a stunning first round ground strikes TKO win over perennial contender, Beneil Dariush.

Islam Makhachev x Charles Oliveira 2 in the works for UFC 297

And according to a report tonight from Ariel Helwani, the current plan is to pit Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira in a championship rematch atop UFC 297 in January of next year.

“The current plan – though not finalized just yet – is to have Islam Makhachev x Charles Oliveira 2 – headline UFC 297,” Helwani posted on his official X account. “That event, while not officially announced yet, is currently slated to Jan. 20 in Toronto. The original plan for that main was Volkanovski x Topuria, but now the plan is for that to be on the February PPV.”

Last night, reports also revealed how a vacant bantamweight championship fight between former title challenger, Raquel Pennington, and Mayra Bueno Silva has been added to the same UFC 297 pay-per-view card in ‘The Great White North’. 

First clashing back in October of last year at UFC 280, Makhachev snapped Oliveira’s division-best winning streak in the pair’s vacant lightweight title fight, landing the divisional crown with a stunning second round arm-triangle submission win in the Middle East.

Who wins at UFC 297 in Canada: Islam Makhachev or Charles Oliveira?

According to former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira, he could be in line for a return to the Octagon as soon as January next, as he also reveals plans are firmly in motion for him to rebook a championship rematch with Islam Makahchev, just days removed from their failed pairing at UFC 294. 

Oliveira, the current number one ranked lightweight contender, was scheduled to headline UFC 294 over the course of last weekend in Abu Dhabi, UAE, until a nasty laceration suffered just 10 days’ out from the bout, forced his ultimate withdrawal from a title rematch with Makhachev.

In the Brazilian’s place stepped in undisputed featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski, who himself rematched Makhachev following a February clash, dropping a thunderous first round high-kick KO loss to the Russian at the Etihad Arena, however.

And despite his withdrawal from a championship rematch on short-notice, Oliveira has already been pegged by UFC CEO, Dana White to fight for gold in his return to active competition, in the form of a rematch with Makhachev.

Charles Oliveira immediate rebooking with Islam Makhachev

Sharing his thoughts on his immediate fighting future, Oliveira, who most recently turned in a blistering first round TKO win over the surging, Beneil Dariush at UFC 289 back in June in a maidan career win in Canada, confirmed plans for him and Makhachev to fight again next.

“Whoever the UFC says he’s (Islam Makhachev) going to fight, they’re going to fight,” Charles Oliveira said through a translator during an interview with MMA Fighting. “Everybody knows I’m next. First in the rankings, coming off of a great win, and ready to fight like I was before. I was ready for that fight [at UFC 294] until [the injury] happened, and I’m next in line.” 

“… I’m training and I’m getting ready for it,” Charles Oliveira explained. “They know what I’m all about. I don’t fight for money. I fight to make history and I fight for my legacy. So, I’m going to to continue to train, continue to get prepared and try to get up to 100 percent just like I was right before this fight. When I’m 100 percent, that’s when I’ll be ready to fight.” 

Who wins in a title rematch: Islam Makhachev or Charles Oliveira?

Following last night’s stunning lightweight title defense win against Alexander Volkanovski, Islam Makhachev has warned former-foe, Charles Oliveira against pursuing a rebooked rematch against him for the belt, claiming doing so would not be a “good idea” for him.

Headlining UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, UAE in a reworked title fight re-run against two-time featherweight champion, Volkanovski, Makhachev defended his championship for the second occasion against the Australian, dispatching him with a brutal left high-kick KO in the opening round. 

Initially scheduled to headline the flagship return to the Middle East against the above-mentioned Oliveira in a championship rematch, Makhachev was booked against Volkanovski just 10 days’ out from the event, after the Brazilian suffered a nasty laceration above his right eye during his final sparring session before jetting out to Abu Dhabi.

Islam Makhachev warns Charles Oliveira against a title rematch after UFC 294

And despite noting his plans to make a welterweight division leap following his win over Volkanovski, Russian berserker, Makhachev has already been earmarked to reschedule a title defense against Oliveira by UFC CEO, Dana White, who confirmed the Sao Paulo finisher would fight for gold next.

“Yeah, listen, you gotta give it to (Charles) Oliveira, I mean,” Dana White told assembled media after UFC 294. “Oliveira was ready to go. Unfortunately, he got cut. But yeah, I think you give it to Oliveira. But again, these are all questions that I really can’t answer right now. We get home, we’ll figure this stuff out and see what’s next for everybody.”

However, as far as Makhachev is concerned, Oliveira should think twice if not thrice before booking a rematch against him, warning him that it would be an unwise decision to do so.

“It’s not my job [to book my next fight],” Islam Makhachev said after UFC 294. “Dana (White) has to work on this, and I will sign the contract. Just send me the name. But in my opinion, I feel like I already had two opponents. Okay, I will beat Charles. Then who is going to be next? (Justin) Gaethje –  he will wait. I don’t think it’s a good idea. But it is what it is. If they [the UFC] say Charles, okay, If they say, Gaethje, okay. Doesn’t matter, I’ll be ready.”

Would you like to see Islam Makhachev rematch Charles Oliveira after UFC 294?

Despite seeing his championship rematch with former lightweight titleholder, Charles Oliveira fall to the wayside ahead of UFC 294, last night’s stunning finish for Islam Makhachev in Abu Dhabi, UAE sees the Russian champion maintain his lead on the betting lines to defeat the former in a potential future title fight.

Makhachev, the incumbent lightweight champion, headlined last night’s return to the Middle East for the Octagon, turning in a spectacular first round win over pound-for-pound best and featherweight kingpin, Alexander Volkanovski in another rematch clash, stopping the Australian with a thunderous opening round high-kick KO win.

Drafting in to replace Sao Paulo finisher, Oliveira on just 10 days’ notice earlier this month, Volkanovski shared the Octagon with Makhachev in an attempt to avenge a February unanimous decision loss to the Russian in a Perth homecoming.

Islam Makhachev leads betting lines over Charles Oliveira after UFC 294

However, turning in his second consecutive title fight win over the New South Wales native, Islam Makhachev has maintained lines as high as -350 to beat ex-champion, Oliveira if they’re booked opposite each other again, with the former sitting as a +275 betting underdog. 

A host of markets and online bookies are still offering action on a potential future rematch between Makhachev and Oliveira – including other writing paper service, as odds appear to point to another one-sided victory for the Russian over his Brazilian rival if they fight again. 

Sharing the Octagon for the first time back in October of last year at UFC 280 in a vacant title outing, Makhachev recorded a one-sided and comprehensive victory over ex-champion, Oliveira.

Failing to mount any real significant offense against the Russian all-rounder, Oliveira saw his division-best 11-fight winning streak come to a crushing end in the form of a second round arm-triangle submission losses to Makhachev at the Etihad Arena.

And returning to the Octagon for the first time since in June of this year in Canada, Oliveira snapped his winless run in ‘The Great White North’ – making short work of the surging, Beneil Dariush with a high-kick knockdown and follow-up strikes en route to a first round TKO win over the Iranian.

However, forced from last night’s slated rematch with Islam Makhachev after suffering a sizeable laceration above his right eye, Oliveira has since been tipped to likely return to a championship fight with the former, by UFC CEO, Dana White.

Speaking with assembled media following the culmination of UFC 294 last night, the long-time organizational boss appeared to only have eyes for a future title fight between Makhachev and Oliveira, claiming the promotion had to honor the rematch afforded to the Brazilian, who dispatched Dariush in blistering fashion at UFC 288 earlier this summer. 

Remaining non-committal on a re-booked fight with Oliveira, however, Islam Makhachev – who was the immediate subject of a call out from former interim titleholder and recently-minted BMF champion, Justin Gaethje, claimed he would fight whomever the promotion elected to pit him against in his return to the Octagon. 

Furthermore, expected to have a keen eye on how UFC 296’s title fight between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington plays out, Makhachev has stressed his intentions to land a second championship belt during his tenure with the promotion. 

Do you still want to see Islam Makhachev fight Charles Oliveira after UFC 294?