Tag: Charles Oliveira

Finally booked to make his long-awaited return to the Octagon following a lengthy absence, undefeated welterweight challenger, Khamzat Chimaev will make a middleweight division return on October 19. – taking on Brazilian fan-favorite, Paulo Costa at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Chimaev, the current number four ranked middleweight contender, has been sidelined he co-headlined UFC 279 back in September of last year, moving to 12-0 as a professional with a first round D’Arce choke submission win over Kevin Holland.

As for Costa, the Belo Horizonte native was expected to make his return at UFC 291 later this month, taking on would-be common-foe, Ikram Aliskerov in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Khamzat Chimaev books Octagon return against Paulo Costa

However, as per an official announcement from UFC president, Dana White, Costa has since been pulled from the bout, taking on the unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev, while Aliskerov also features on October 19. now, taking on Nassourdine Imavov on ‘Fight Island’. 

Linked with a slew of opponents for a return to the Octagon during his absence from the sport, Chimaev, who had recently called for a fight with welterweight champion, Leon Edwards, just earlier this week, had also weighed up a catchweight pairing with former champion, Kamaru Usman.

And as for Costa, the Brazilian middleweight has been sidelined since August of last year, returning to the winner’s enclosure himself with a unanimous decision win over former middleweight champion, Luke Rockhold at UFC 278. 

UFC 294 is also set to feature a highly-anticipated lightweight title rematch between Islam Makhachev and former champion, Charles Oliveira. 

Despite initially claiming just earlier this month how an October turnaround to secure a title rematch with rival, Islam Makhachev was simply too soon for his comeback, former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira is officially slated to headline UFC 294 midway through the month in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

As per UFC president, Dana White in an official announcement overnight, Islam Makhachev will return to the Octagon on October 19. in the Middle East – topping the event in a title rematch against recent big-winner, Oliveira. White announced the headliner in a special announcement video on the official UFC YouTube channel. 

Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira headlined UFC 294 on October 19.

Initially meeting back in October of last year at the same venue, Makhachev managed to mint himself as the undisputed lightweight titleholder, clinching vacant gold against the Sao Paulo native, after securing a second round arm-triangle submission win to snap the Brazilian’s division-best 12-fight winning streak.

Returning in February of this year in the main event of UFC 284, Islam Makhachev defeated undisputed featherweight champion and pound-for-pound number one, Alexander Volkanovski on enemy territory in a close, unanimous decision win.

Making his triumphant Octagon return at UFC 288 back in June in Canada, Oliveira returned to winning ways with a huge first round win over Beneil Dariush, himself ending the division streak of the Iranian grappler. 

Oliveira himself managed to mint himself with lightweight title spoils back in 2020 against Michael Chandler, defeating the current number five ranked contender with a second round KO in the pair’s vacant title outing.

In a single successful title defense, the Chute Boxe staple submitted former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier with a third round standing rear-naked choke. 

UFC 294 takes place on October 19. from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE – with the lightweight title rematch between Makhachev and Oliveira taking main event honors. 

Despite seemingly all but penned to fight lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev in a title rematch at UFC 294 in October in Abu Dhabi, UAE, former division champion, Charles Oliveira has admitted the Middle Eastern turnaround is “too soon” for him, eyeing a fight in either November or December instead.

Oliveira, the current number one ranked lightweight contender, most recently featured in the co-main event of UFC 289 back in June in Vancouver, Canada, appearing to earn his championship rematch with Russian finisher, Makhachev, stopping the run of Beneil Dariush with a first round TKO victory.

Having previously shared the Octagon with American Kickboxing Academy staple, Makhachev back in October of last year in the main event of UFC 280, Oliveira saw his division-best 12-fight winning run come to a halt after dropping an arm-triangle submission loss to the former in the pair’s vacant title outing.

Charles Oliveira confirms he is unlikely to fight Islam Makhachev at UFC 294

Initially calling for an October championship re-run with Makhachev, Sao Paulo native, Oliveira admitted during an interview with TSN reporter, Aaron Bronsteter, that he is unable to make a turnaround and fight Makhachev at UFC 284 in October.

“So, I’m gonna honest with you,” Charles Oliveira said through a translator.” We don’t have nothing yet – we still are waiting. But, to be honest, October is too soon for me. It’s too soon – especially if the fight is gonna be there [in Abu Dhabi]. I’m really going to be ready in November or December, but October is too soon. We don’t have nothing yet.” 

Here is our discussion regarding his rematch with Islam Makhachev: pic.twitter.com/dEhWg7pDN6

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) July 8, 2023

Questioned if he would be willing to lay in wait for a future title affair, Oliveira stressed that he would be ready to fight at the end of the year instead.

“I just need to wait, I’m a UFC employee, so I just need to wait,” Charles Oliveira explained through a translator. “For me, it doesn’t matter. The one thing I can tell you, I’m not ready for a fight in October, but in November or December, I will be ready. I’m just waiting, so let’s see what they’re (UFC) going to do.” 

Initially closing a severe betting underdog to clinch vacant lightweight gold ahead of their UFC 280 title showdown back in October of last year, now-undisputed champion, Islam Makhachev has opened as a sizeable betting favorite once again ahead of an expected title re-run with Charles Oliveira.

Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion, headlined UFC 284 back in February of this year in Perth, Australia – defeating featherweight titleholder, Alexander Volkanovski in a competitive unanimous decision win at the RAC Arena.

As for Oliveira, the Sao Paulo finisher managed to turn in another record-setting performance at UFC 289 earlier this month, defeating surging contender, Beneil Dariush in a one-sided first round finish, defeating the Iranian–born challenger with a scramble of first frame ground strikes en route to a a TKO win.

And immediately calling for a title rematch with Makhachev, Oliveira, the most prolific finisher and overal submission artist in the history of the UFC, has opened as a sizeable +240 betting underdog to defeat the Russian – who has himself opened as a betting favorite as high as -285 on some markets. 

Oliveira has called for a Sao Paulo return in order to secure a title fight with Makhachev, however, the AKA grappler is earmarked to headline UFC 294 in October in Abu Dhabi, UAE – the same scene as their vacant title battle last year.

Another potential venue for the expected title re-run of Makhachev and Oliveira could come in the fight and gambling capital of the world; Las Vegas. Nevada. A slew of markets are already taking action on a potential rematch between the lightweight outliers, with freespin no deposit markets also taking action and wagers on other combat sports to boot as the Octagon is set to role into ‘Sin City’ for flagship events in July and December. 

Seeing his division-best 12-fight winning run come to a crashing halt back in October of last year in the Middle East, Oliveira had previously turned in a trio of victories in undisputed lightweight title fights before his submission defeat to Makhachev.

Clinching his own vacant crown with a knockout win over Michael Chandler back in 2021, the Brazilian then stopped former interim gold holder, Dustin Poirier with a third round standing rear-naked choke win in December of that year to defend the crown.

Stripped of his gold at UFC 274 last year, Oliveira missed the lightweight championship limit by just half a pound, leaving him ineligible to win spoils against Justin Gaethje, however, he would go on to submit the challenger with a first round rear-naked choke to boot. 

Weighing up a host of challengers to his throne ahead of an expected title fight headliner in October on ‘Fight Island’, Makhachev, who is poised to headline at the Ethad Arena for the second year running – also previously weighed up the possibility of both rematching Volkanovski, or facing would-be common-foe, Poirier, who rematches Gaethje at UFC 291 at the end of next month with a symbolic BMF championship belt also on the line. 

As likely expected, Charles Oliveira’s head coach, Diego Lima has predicted a victory for his student against the incumbent lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev ahead of a potential rematch for UFC gold later this year, however, the coach remains supremely confident of a knockout stoppage.

Oliveira, a former undisputed lightweight champion and the current number one ranked contender, most recently returned to the winner’s enclosure earlier this month at UFC 289, defeating the streaking Beneil Dariush with a stunning opening round ground strikes TKO success. 

As for Makhachev, the Russian headlined UFC 284 back in February in Perth, Australia – defeating featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski in a very close, unanimous decision success ‘Down Under’.

Sharing the Octagon back in October at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi, UAE – Charles Oliveira saw his 12-fight winning run halted by Makhachev, who clinched the vacant lightweight crown, submitting the Brazilian with a stunning second arm-triangle submission win.

However, off the back of his ground strikes TKO win over Dariush earlier this month, Oliveira was backed to take on Makhachev in a title rematch by UFC leader, Dana White, who claimed he was excited to see a future re-run between the duo.

Charles Oliveira tipped to secure lightweight title with KO win over Islam Makhachev

And despite Makhachev claiming he wants a fresh opponent other than Oliveira in a potential return at UFC 294 in October, the latter’s coach, Lima expects the two to fight again – backing his student to land a win.

“It’s a knockout,” Diego Lima said of Charles Oliveira’s chances against Islam Makhachev during an interview with MMA Fighting. “It’s funny that people say, ‘But Charles (Oliveira) has the most submissions [in UFC history],’ but the fight starts on the feet and we have a lot planned for the striking – and it continues when we go to the ground.”

“(Michael) Chandler went down and Charles got the TKO,” Lima explained. “Charles could have gone for the mount and a submission. Charles is very strong. He’s attacking so well. That’s why I really believe in a knockout – but when they go down, then we have a submission.” (Transcribed by MMA News)