Insider Says Charles Oliveira Has a List of Demands to Be Backup for Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler – “He’s Not Joking”

Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira is ready to be the backup fighter for the Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler bout. But he has one condition. Coming off of a number one title bout loss at the hands of Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300 a few weeks ago, Oliveira is perfectly placed for the job. With Justin Gaethje taking a six-month break after his UFC 300 clash with Max Holloway, and Dustin Poirier scheduled to fight for the title the same month, Oliveira is the clear choice to be the backup fighter for the UFC 303 main event fight on June 29.

UFC analysts Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier discussed Oliveira’s demand, with the former champion having some strongly worded advice for ‘Do Bronx’.

‘DC’ and Sonnen remind Oliveira that fighting Conor McGregor is the best move for his career

Charles Oliveira, in his native Portuguese, revealed that he was offered to be the backup fighter for the Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler fight. However, he had one condition for the UFC, “The only condition is if I were to fight McGregor, then I’d have to re-negotiate that before. Once I said that, everyone started talking about me and moving to 170, but that’s not exactly what it is,” ‘Do Bronx’ added.

Verbose UFC analyst Chael Sonnen felt that there was virtually no chance of the UFC accepting the Brazilian’s demands and advised him to take the fight, nonetheless. And an exasperated Daniel Cormier couldn’t agree more. “He really put out a list of demands. He’s not joking about this. I will fight on that date if…,” Sonnen said while speaking on the recent episode of the ‘Good Guy/Bad Guy’.

Former two-division champion Daniel Cormier categorically told Charles Oliveira that: “You can’t give demands.” Cormier felt that given his recent loss, the best thing that Oliveira could do for his career and standing among fans was to fight McGregor. And any demands, which the UFC is very unlikely to accept, just stand between Oliveira and what is best for his future as a fighter.

“You know why can’t give demands? Because you have said you would rather fight McGregor than even fight for the world title. But now that you’ve lost to Arman Tsarukyan, you don’t get to fight for the world title. So now… the biggest thing you can get is to fight Conor McGregor. And now you’re saying but I have to have these things to happen? No Charles,” an impassioned Cormier advised Oliveira.

All Charles Oliveira should be looking to do is to agree to be the backup fighter for the UFC 303 main event, make weight, and pray that Michael Chandler gets hurt, according to Cormier. Cormier’s advice does make sense. A victory over McGregor, the biggest superstar in the promotion, would be huge for Oliveira, who has almost been overshadowed since losing his title two years ago.

Either way, the final decision rests with the UFC, and they, as Sonnen indicated, are almost sure to refuse Oliveira. This raises the question that despite almost surely knowing the UFC will not give in to his sole demand, why does Oliveira want to re-negotiate if gets to fight Conor McGregor?

Oliveira wants to get paid well for fighting McGregor

Given the business that one of McGregor’s fights does, it is easy to understand why the Brazilian would want to renegotiate if Chandler gets hurt and he has to fight McGregor. Chandler, after all, had virtually put his career on hold for over a year, as the McGregor fight will most probably be the biggest payday in his professional MMA career by far.

Even Oliveira, before his UFC 300 title eliminator with Tsarukyan, had said that if he won the bout, he would prefer to fight McGregor next over even a title shot. For the same reason. ‘Notorious’ is the biggest star in the sport’s history who has broken into mainstream culture. This is why, despite the odds being stacked against him, and coming into the bout with every disadvantage, his comeback fight may be every bit as significant as the UFC 300 marquee mega-card, and may eventually prove to be as commercially successful, if not more than the anniversary card.

And Oliveira wants a piece of that pie, which will almost surely include more money and possibly a cut of the PPV revenue. While Oliveira’s sole demand does seem to have merit to it, given his credentials, ‘DC’ and Sonnen were not too optimistic about it panning out ‘Do Bronx’s way.

Do you think Dana White will agree to Oliveria’s demands? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.