In a remarkable comeback, Charles Oliveira triumphantly returned to the octagon after nearly a year since losing his 11-fight winning streak and his championship belt to Islam Makhachev. And with style, the Brazilian fighter bounced back from his defeat as he effortlessly dispatched Beneil Dariush with a first-round knockout victory in the co-main event of UFC 289 at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This impressive feat immediately sparked speculations of a rematch between ‘do Bronx’ and Makhachev, setting the MMA world abuzz.

Adding fuel to the fire, the reigning UFC middleweight kingpin is rumored to make an appearance at UFC 294, scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi in October. While his next opponent remains undecided, the rematch between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje, set for UFC 291 with the BMF belt on the line, has garnered significant attention. The prospective winner of the coveted BMF title may potentially secure a shot at the championship. However, such an outcome seems unlikely at this stage.

Amidst the uncertainty surrounding the former middleweight champion’s rematch opportunity, UFC legend Chael Sonnen has weighed in on the matter. Sonnen has suggested that ‘Diamond’ Poirier might play a crucial role in getting the rematch between Oliveira and Makhachev on the cards, with one condition – if he keeps himself in check.

Dustin Poirier can get Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev rematch to happen

Chael Sonnen recently pondered the idea of a potential rematch between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev, reflecting on the possibilities. The 46-year-old MMA veteran shared his thoughts on the matter, acknowledging the potential difficulties that might arise if Dustin Poirier shows interest in facing the Dagestani fighter following his victory over Justin Gaethje.

“The number on thing that will help Oliveira is if Poirier remains silent,” stated Sonnen, emphasizing the importance of Poirier’s stance in shaping the fight’s trajectory.

He continued, “Now, Gaethje spoke up on this. Gaethje said if Beneil loses and I win, I’ll be fighting Islam… if you understood that , you would see that’s probably a pretty powerful statement as long as that spot is still open.”

Read more: “He Was Better Than Me Because…”: 8 Months After Losing His Lightweight Championship to Islam Makhachev, Charles Oliveira Comes Clean About His Loss at UFC 280

However, Sonnen pointed out that the dynamics would change dramatically if Poirier were to express his understanding of the situation, stating, “But if Poirier comes out and did an interview today saying, ‘Hey, listen. My understanding here, this is the number one contenders match. That was my understanding. It’s a title match, for goodness’ sakes. The winner goes in to Islam.’ You’re gonna have a completely different conversation.”

Both Oliveira and Makhachev have ignited the flames of a potential rematch, engaging in a war of words following UFC 289. With Oliveira’s recent strong performance, the prospect of him getting a chance to reclaim the title becomes even more intriguing.

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