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SÃO PAULO — Charles Oliveira hoped to rematch UFC light-weight champion Islam Makhachev after knocking out Beneil Dariush in June 2023, however there’s a state of affairs wherein he takes one other struggle after UFC 300 as an alternative of difficult for the belt.
Oliveira meets Arman Tsarukyan on April 13 in Las Vegas, and Diego Lima, his supervisor and the top coach at Chute Boxe, defined to MMA Preventing why he would relatively face Conor McGregor in a welterweight contest relatively than reserving a rematch with Makhachev following the huge pay-per-view present.
“It will be nice to struggle McGregor,” Lima stated. “McGregor has made historical past.
“Professionally talking, [fighting him] could be unbelievable. If we had the chance to struggle McGregor at welterweight after this struggle, we’d struggle McGregor. However how concerning the belt? OK, we’ll struggle the belt after that, God keen. However we all know that with McGregor, the creature has turn out to be larger than the creator. We all know that if the chance got here, McGregor already thought of this struggle. If we actually had this chance, that’s the one we would like.”
Lima revealed that McGregor texted Oliveira privately up to now, asking Oliveira to attend for him to return as an alternative of dealing with Makhachev, nevertheless Oliveira’s staff determined in opposition to it as a result of the Irish star was nonetheless recovering from a leg break.
With McGregor lastly gearing up for a return in 2024, Oliveira’s staff likes the concept now.
“The belt is a certainty after beating McGregor,” Lima stated. “No means we beat McGregor and don’t struggle for the belt subsequent. It’s one after the opposite.
“McGregor actually needs to struggle at [International] Combat Week. Who is aware of? In fact, one struggle at a time. Arman is tremendous robust, actually good. Charles is 100% targeted on Arman and doesn’t take into consideration Makhachev or McGregor. Me too. I’m solely watching Arman’s fights, engaged on a method for Arman. I wouldn’t begin watching McGregor’s or Makhachev’s fights as we speak. I’m not doing that. However we give it some thought.”
The Chute Boxe coach stated he considers Tsarukyan to be a more durable opponent than McGregor, however envisions “do Bronx” stopping each on the ft.
“Charles doesn’t struggle to not lose, he fights to win. There’s an enormous distinction,” Lima stated. “We see nice champions getting there and beginning to struggle to not lose. You see ugly fights, combating to attain factors and placing on ugly fights. Charles solely goes in there to win, to attain knockouts or submissions. With that, sadly, he exposes himself and will get knocked down, as a result of he goes for it.
“Our thought in opposition to Arman is to be as good as attainable. Charles has extra attain, so I need to use that attain and his motion to go for the knockout or submission on the proper time. We don’t need to go the space. ‘What spherical is it going to be?’ I’m finding out that as a result of Arman’s efficiency drops. We at all times examine our opponents. … We noticed plenty of Arman’s fights. Very explosive, very sturdy, quick. He strikes so much and likes to ship that jab to observe up with a tough proper, and our thought is to knock him out on the ft and submit him on the bottom. I actually imagine in Charles by knockout. However something can occur.”
Probably dealing with McGregor later this 12 months would imply snatching the matchup away from Michael Chandler, who coached on The Final Fighter 31 reverse “The Infamous” and has patiently waited for McGregor to return.
However Lima suppose altering plans would take advantage of sense for everybody concerned — besides Chandler.
“Sucks, proper? With all due respect to Chandler, I’m not taking something away from him, however what’s his historical past within the UFC? What number of fights did he do within the UFC?” Lima stated. “In fact, he sells, he has a reputation, I agree with that, however … [Justin] Gaethje, [Dustin] Poirier, Charles, Makhachev, all of them have completed greater than Chandler within the UFC. Far more. So I don’t know if this struggle will promote.
“Chandler stored ready for McGregor and folks forgot about Chandler. Respectfully, no one is aware of he exists. Arman is on a roll, Gaethje too, Poirier did this struggle. F***, have a look at Poirier’s struggle. Poirier simply had an unbelievable struggle. I’m a fan of his. Chandler, poor man, is sitting and ready. He by no means received three in a row [in the UFC], by no means got here shut — OK, he fought for it, however by no means received the belt. He’s lacking.
“In the meantime, persons are working. Gaethje is placing on wars, Poirier is placing on wars, Charles is placing on wars, Arman is placing on wars, Makhachev is placing on wars. Sadly, it makes this Chandler vs. McGregor struggle promote much less and fewer as a result of it is going to be all about McGregor and never a bit about Chandler. … Charles sells greater than Chandler. If Charles fights McGregor now, f***, for my part, that may cease the struggle world. It will cease it.”
If the 2 former champions do meet at some point, Lima sees his protege ending McGregor with punches, regardless that logic signifies that utilizing his jiu-jitsu could be a wiser technique.
“Truthfully, with all due respect to McGregor, who’s an incredible fighter, I imagine Charles knocks him out,” Lima stated. “Everyone talks about how good it could be to take him to the bottom. I agree with you, however the struggle begins on the ft, and Charles has heavy, heavy palms now. Charles’ palms are unbelievable.”
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