Fact Check: Is Charles Oliveira Replacing Conor McGregor at UFC 303? Coach Breaks Silence on Rumors

Two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor‘s highly anticipated return to the octagon is shrouded in uncertainty. Rumors of a cancellation swirl around UFC 303, leaving the fate of the fight and careers of both, McGregor and his opponent, #6 ranked lightweight Michael Chandler, hanging in the balance. Chandler has been training tirelessly for this showdown, but whispers of McGregor’s potential injury threaten to derail the entire event.

Adding another layer to the drama, reports surfaced on Instagram MMA pages @Knockoutalerts, suggesting former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira as a last-minute replacement if a UFC champion is needed to headline UFC 303. This article will delve into the legitimacy of the rumors surrounding Oliveira’s potential involvement in the event.

According to a report by MMA’s new outlet @ChampRDS, Charles Oliveira’s head coach Diego Lima says there is “absolutely nothing” regarding discussions about Oliveira taking a short-notice fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303. This statement overrides earlier reports suggesting Oliveira would step in to fight Chandler at UFC 303.

Meanwhile, Charles Oliveira’s recent run has been a rollercoaster. A nasty cut above his eye sidelined him from his October 2023 rematch with Islam Makhachev, halting his momentum. After a long layoff, he finally returned to the Octagon at UFC 300, but unfortunately came up short in a close split decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan. This led to a surprising turn of events: an invitation to train with Makhachev’s camp. It seems Makhachev recognizes Oliveira’s talent, evident in his impressive 11-fight win streak.

Charles Oliveira declines Dagestani’s offer

At the UFC 302 media day, before successfully defending his Lightweight title belt for the third time against the former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 itself, Islam Makhachev offered to help Oliveira sharpen his skills, but “Do Bronx” politely declined.

Incidentally, not everyone knows this, but Oliveira’s well-rounded fighter is famous for his loyalty to his gym, Chute Boxe. Though thankful for Makhachev’s invitation to train together in Dagestan, Oliveira politely declined. He explained that he thrives in his current training environment and remains dedicated to his team. Moreover, he even complimented Makhachev’s performance against Poirier and his successful title defense.

“I’m grateful for Islam’s kindness in inviting me to train,” Oliveira told BandSport. “I am only part of Chute Boxe. I have no intention of training anywhere else. I’m happy with everything he said. He had a great fight at UFC 302 and demonstrated that he is the champion.” It is no secret that Islam and Charles Oliveira have a good relationship, even after Islam Makhachev’s win over Oliveira at UFC 280 in 2022. In fact, Oliveira picked Islam to beat Dustin Poirier and expects Makhachev to stay in the lightweight division for a long time.

With rumors swirling, about Conor McGregor pulling out of UFC 303 and Charles Oliveira’s coach shutting down any chance of a last-minute fight, who would you like to see step in and face Michael Chandler? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments!