Islam Makhachev is on a mission to solidify his status as one of the greatest lightweights ever to grace the Octagon. And Charles Oliveira stands in his path once again. Their first encounter took place at UFC 280, where Oliveira, due to a weight miss against Justin Gaethje, had to relinquish his title before facing Makhachev. In that bout, Makhachev exhibited sheer dominance, culminating in a second-round submission victory.

Now, these two formidable fighters are gearing up for a rematch at UFC 294, scheduled for October 21 in Abu Dhabi. Oliveira had recently expressed reservations about the fight’s location. Still, Makhachev swiftly responded to Oliveira’s concerns, calmly dissecting why he believed Oliveira’s remarks didn’t hold water. And also revealed an interesting piece of information about the UFC’s involvement in the decision!

Islam Makhachev believes that Charles Oliveira accepted the fight due to UFC and Dana White

Charles Oliveira earned his second shot at the lightweight title by dispatching Beneil Dariush with a first-round TKO at UFC 289 in June. Dariush, previously on an impressive 8-fight win streak, fell victim to Oliveira’s prowess. This victory solidified Oliveira’s position as the rightful contender for a rematch with Makhachev. However, he didn’t initially accept the fight due to its location and his prior experiences in Abu Dhabi.

When asked whether he believes Oliveira truly believes he can defeat him, Makhachev replied in his characteristically composed manner. Stating, “I don’t think he believed because he tried to leave from this fight. But UFC told him, ‘Hey man, you have to come to Abu Dhabi and fight for the belt, and that’s it. He tried to leave, he tried to move the fight to Brazil, do something, but in the end, he did what the UFC said. But, same thing for me, what UFC told me I did, because I have the contract, and that’s it.”

In a recent interview, Oliveira stated, “I don’t necessarily think it’s fair” regarding the rematch’s location. However, Islam Makhachev suspects that Oliveira’s hesitation stems from his doubts about facing him again. And that the UFC and Dana White were responsible for him accepting the fight. As previously, Oliveira had stated that he would like to fight for the title in Sao Paulo, in his home country of Brazil.

Read More: Charles Oliveira, Who Holds UFC’s Highest Submissions, Doesn’t Pose Any Dangers for Islam Makhachev, Claims Dagestani’s Teammate

Makhachev’s comments underscore his unwavering commitment to competing under any circumstances and defending his title against all challengers. He has also made it known that he would like to claim the rare honor of being a two-weight UFC champion!

Makhachev has aspirations of being champ-champ

UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards is scheduled to face Colby Covington at UFC 296 in December. Makhachev, ranked as the No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter in the world by ESPN, expressed his aspiration to challenge the winner. This sentiment arises, especially after the UFC granted featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski an opportunity to face him in February, with Makhachev ultimately securing victory via decision.

In an interview with ESPN Makhachev stated, “I don’t know what the UFC has planned, but my dream fight is for the second belt, of course, I am under contract, so whatever the UFC says, I will fight, no problem. But Edwards vs. Colby — I really believe I can beat [the winner].

Makhachev’s dreams extend to claiming a second belt, and he remains ready to embrace any challenge the UFC presents. While acknowledging the difficulty of the battles that lie ahead, Makhachev firmly believes in his abilities to emerge victorious against top-tier competitors like Edwards and Covington, should he get the chance to face them.

Do you think Charles Oliveira has what it takes to reclaim his title? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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