Charles Oliveira Receives a Grave Reminder as Sword Hangs Over Brazilian Ahead of Islam Makhachev Fight at UFC 294

Charles Oliveira, the Brazilian fighter, is gearing up for UFC 294, a pivotal moment in his career, as he seeks redemption. His journey in the UFC has been nothing short of remarkable, especially considering that he initially started as a featherweight. The turning point came in 2021, as he clinched the UFC lightweight title with a victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 262. Oliveira’s earlier struggles in the lower weight class had led many fans to dismiss him as a fighter with unrealized potential- dubbing him a ‘glass cannon’ incapable of championship success.

Oliveira defied the doubters as he dominated contenders such as Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier during an impressive 11-fight win streak. However, his streak was halted at the hands of Islam Makhachev. Now, these two fighters are poised for a rematch. And a UFC legend believes this could be Oliveira’s final opportunity to claim the title!

Former UFC middleweight champion believes Charles Oliveira cannot afford to lose

The history between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev dates back to their encounter at UFC 280. Where Makhachev secured a submission victory and laid claim to the vacant lightweight title. Oliveira had been stripped of the title earlier for missing weight in a bout against Justin Gaethje.

Michael Bisping, former UFC middleweight champion, shed light on the situation, emphasizing the stakes for Oliveira’s career. Bisping remarked, “Because there’s a lot of other worthy contenders out there and Charles went out, beat Beneil Dariush in very very exciting fashion in the kind of style that Oliveira always does, true to himself, the man’s a maniac in the best type of way. But if he loses to Islam straight away, once again, two times in a row, he isn’t going to get another shot. So this is in some ways do or die for Charles Oliveira.”

UFC 294,  like their previous match, will be hosted in Abu Dhabi. Oliveira has expressed reservations about the location. However, despite his desire for a fight in Brazil, UFC has scheduled the rematch to occur where Oliveira experienced both defeat and an unfriendly crowd response during his previous bout.

‘Do Bronx’ feels UFC 294 location is not fair

In an interview with James Lynch, Oliveira acknowledged the situation, stating, “[I] don’t necessarily think it’s fair, but it’s the game. You know, that’s where the champion is. He calls the shots, but I’m coming back for my belt.”

Makhachev, on the other hand, responded on Twitter/X, explaining, “Charles, I asked to fight in the US in the summer, but the UFC has other plans.” He further stated that, like Oliveira, he is a UFC fighter and does not determine fight conditions or locations, and cited his previous fight in Australia, where he fought in the challenger, Alexander Volkanovski’s territory. He ended the post by stating that Oliveira’s statements do not make sense in the context of their rematch.

Read More: “Please Corner Islam”- Fans Request Khabib Nurmagomedov To Turn Back on His Word for Islam Makhachev vs Charles Oliveira’s UFC 294 Fight

In conclusion, Charles Oliveira’s upcoming rematch against Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 represents a make-or-break moment in his career. His journey from a lower-weight-class underdog to the UFC lightweight champion is at a critical juncture. The outcome of this fight holds significant implications for his future in the division.

Do you think ‘Do Bronx’ will reclaim his title? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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