Charles Oliveira’s trainer and manager Diego Lima is confident that the winner of the ex-champ’s fight against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300 will face lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. He thinks that the Dagestani will do everything to avoid confrontation.
A coach who wants it just as much as his fighter! When UFC CEO Dana White announced the Oliveira-Tsarukyan fight for April 13 in Las Vegas, he said the winner would get a titleshot. Makhachev revealed his 2024 plans on Wednesday, which include a clash with Justin Gaethje on June 8 before he faces Oliveira or Tsarukyan.
“I don’t want to start any controversy,” Charles Oliveira’s coach Diego Lima told MMA Fighting.
“Makhachev is great, he is champion for a reason. The guy is really good and deserves all the credits, but I think it’s clear he doesn’t want to fight Charles again. He wants to get out of this fight by any means possible. It’s more than clear. I’m not taking anything away from him, let’s be clear, but I think for everything he does, ‘I’d rather fight this guy or that guy, I’m going to move up a division. »
Charles Oliveira was already scheduled to fight for the title
Oliveira was Makhachev’s original opponent for UFC 294, but he had to withdraw due to a cut. As a reminder of the facts, Volkanovski, the replacement, was brought down in 3 minutes by Makhachev, with a destructive high-kick.
Following this, a discussion between the Oliveira clan, Makhachev and the UFC was rearranged to result in the fight. The lightweight champion was injured shortly afterward, Lima said. Which put the process on hold, but whatever Islam says, Lima doesn’t think he’s dictating the UFC and says the latter won’t be able to run.