{"id":430,"date":"2022-10-14T09:12:18","date_gmt":"2022-10-14T08:12:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mmamag.ma\/en\/?p=430"},"modified":"2022-10-14T16:30:03","modified_gmt":"2022-10-14T15:30:03","slug":"charles-oliveira-is-ready-to-fight-khabib","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mmamag.ma\/en\/charles-oliveira-is-ready-to-fight-khabib\/","title":{"rendered":"Charles Oliveira is ready to fight Khabib!!!"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Brazilian spoke on a potential match-up with the Russian former lightweight champion<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Brazil\u2019s Charles Oliveira has vowed to\u00a0\u201cshock the world\u201d<\/em>\u00a0when he faces Russian rival Islam Makhachev for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi later this month \u2013 and insists he would be\u00a0\u201cready\u201d<\/em>\u00a0for Khabib Nurmagomedov if the MMA icon ever reversed his retirement decision.<\/p>\n

Oliveira is bidding to recapture the lightweight UFC crown which he was stripped of when weighing in heavy before his last fight against Justin Gaethje in May.<\/p>\n

Standing in his way is Dagestan\u2019s Makhachev \u2013 a man often described as the\u00a0\u201cprotege\u201d<\/em>\u00a0of teammate, friend and trainer Khabib.<\/p>\n

Makhachev is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his mentor Khabib, who famously retired unbeaten in 2020 after extending his unblemished career to 29-0 with victory over Gaethje in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n

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As the clock ticks down to the highly anticipated match-up on October 22, Oliveira was asked by\u00a0ESPN\u2019s\u00a0Brett Okamoto if he sees Makhachev \u2013 who is unbeaten in his last 10 Octagon outings \u2013 as his toughest assignment yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0came the curt response from the Brazilian.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a protege of Khabib, he carries that weight on his shoulders. I didn\u2019t choose fights, I just got on with them, and this is what we\u2019re going to do. It\u2019s a different story,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0added Oliveira, via translation.<\/p>\n

When questioned if the\u00a0\u201cpresence\u201d<\/em>\u00a0of Khabib in Makhachev\u2019s camp would be a factor, the 32-year-old was equally dismissive \u2013 noting that he would be prepared to face Khabib himself, even if a return from retirement for \u2018The Eagle\u2019 was unlikely.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fight is against Islam, whenever [Khabib\u2019s] willing to get back, I\u2019ll always be ready,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0said Oliveira<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, I don\u2019t think he\u2019s going to fight again\u2026 he\u2019s retired, he\u2019s done, and I respect that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Oliveira enters the showdown with Makhachev on an 11-fight unbeaten streak, which includes capturing the lightweight title by defeating Michael Chandler in May 2021.<\/p>\n

\u2018Do Bronx\u2019 defended the crown with a pulsating victory over Dustin Poirier in December, before losing his title on the scales ahead of the contest with Gaethje \u2013 a fight he still went on to win via first-round submission.<\/p>\n

Asked what he would do against Makhachev, Oliveira was clear with his message.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to shock the world yet again,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0vowed the Sau Paulo native.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to do that in the first round\u2026 I\u2019m going to show that my background, the number of fights, this will come to show, in this sense I will shock the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

READ MORE:\u00a0Khabib coach claims prot\u00e9g\u00e9 might be better striker and pupil than UFC great<\/div>\n

Oliveira and Makhachev meet in the main event of UFC 280 on \u2018Fight Island\u2019.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere on the card, Russian former bantamweight champion Petr Yan will be seeking to rebuild towards another title shot as he faces colorful American Sean O\u2019Malley.<\/p>\n

Current bantamweight king Aljamain Sterling \u2013 who outpointed Yan in their title rematch in April \u2013 defends his belt against former 135lbs ruler TJ Dillashaw in the co-main event.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n