Some think that the co-main event was the ‘actual main event’ at UFC 309, with fighters around the same age going toe-to-toe with each other. The rematch bout between Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler was an explosive five-round affair with exciting moments that had fans at the edge of their seats. Not surprisingly, ‘du Bronx’ dominated the fight for all rounds, except one moment where he was caught by one of Chandler’s big shots. As grueling as the fight looked, both fighters looked like they had a lot of fun in there, however, in the end, Oliveira emerged victorious via unanimous decision.

With the victory comes the leverage of Charles Oliveira to gun for another title shot. The lightweight champion Islam Makhachev due for his fourth title defense against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311, and ‘do Bronx’ could very well find himself facing the winner of that fight next. However, former UFC fighter and fight analyst Chael Sonnen has a different opinion on Oliveira facing Makhachev again (should Makhachev win, of course).

Charles Oliveira might not have to face Islam Makhachev next feels Sonnen

The fight between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev was a defining moment in UFC history. Both are elite grapplers in their own right but chose to keep the fight standing In the second round at UFC 280, Makhachev floored Oliveira with a straight right and proceeded to submit him with an arm-triangle choke, taking away Oliveira’s then-newfound aura of invincibility.

Keeping the events of their championship bout, Chael Sonnen just doesn’t believe Charles Oliveira is willing to face Islam Makhachev again. Taking to his YouTube channel, he said – “It was a perfect storm where Chandler needs to set up what’s next for him and Charles Oliveira could be [next in line] for a title fight. The problem with that is the very reason that Charles did not call for it. Charles does not want to fight Islam. And I don’t give Charles a hard time. I mean this is to praise Charles. But he does not want to fight Islam. But he might not need to fight Islam. Tsarukyan is a very hard fight for Islam we know that. They have already fought once and Tsarukyan-Islam is next.”

The Dagestani champion will defend his title against Arman Tsarukyan in a highly anticipated rematch at UFC 311, scheduled for January 2025 in Los Angeles. This bout marks nearly six years since their first clash in 2019, where a relatively unknown Tsarukyan pushed Makhachev to his limit before the Dagestani fighter secured a unanimous decision victory.

After a tough loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300, the Brazilian was determined to turn things around. Fueled by the desire to prove himself again, he committed to an intense training regimen and made significant sacrifices. His partner recently shed light on the struggles he endured over the past month, emphasizing the toll the journey has taken on the former champion.

Charles Oliveira’s girlfriend praises the former champion for his mental toughness

Charles Oliveira’s professional and personal life has been marked by many challenges. He was first stripped of the title and then his previous marriage ended. Amidst all the chaos a major personal milestone for Oliveira happened after he became a father to a boy with his long-time partner, Vitoria Brum. Like a true champion, Charles Oliveira kept his head high through these trials and his partner stood by him like a rock. Hours after the fight concluded, his partner shared a message where she praised the former champion for keeping his patience and working hard.

She took to her Instagram account to share a message for ‘Do Bronx’ after he revealed that he faced a knee injury before his fight. Brum wrote, “Nothing was easy, but if it was easy, it wouldn’t be you either. We went through an injury, and many nights of pain, and trained for several days with our lives turned upside down because we couldn’t sleep at night. The weight cut wasn’t as it should have been, taking your soul along with the kilos in that sauna. But even if, for a moment, you thought about giving up”. Oliveira’s resilience and hard work during this period highlight his unwavering dedication to reclaiming his place at the top.

However, the big question is – who will he be facing next in his career? Will it be Islam Makahchev or Arman Tsarukyan next? If it is Islam Makhachev, do you think Chael Sonnen’s assessment of Oliveira’s position holds any weight? Let us know in the comments below.