Former Ultimate Fighting Championship champ Charles Oliveira wants his old title back so badly, he can taste it.
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Scheduled to rematch Michael Chandler in the co-main event of UFC 309 next Saturday in New York City, ex-lightweight champion Charles Oliveira felt that at age 35 he is entering the top of his game. “Do Bronx” revealed to Sherdog this week that his training camp went as smoothly as one ever has, while discussing what he expects on Nov. 16 in Madison Square Garden.
“Everything went out perfectly, and the most important thing is I’m hungry and motivated to defeat Chandler once again and finally get my title shot again,” Oliveira remarked.
The two lightweight greats first tangled at UFC 262 in 2021, and Chandler came out of the gate hot by hurting Oliveira more than once and hitting a crucial takedown early. While Oliveira eventually turned the tables and knocked Chandler out, the Brazilian is razor-focused on winning this second encounter at all costs.
“I always fight to decide the fight before the end,” Oliveira stated, “and when you face the top guys, and I’ve faced all the top of my division, you must be prepared to overcome adversities and that’s what I did. Most important for me is to get my hand raised and fight for the belt again.”
If the UFC’s all-time leader in submissions prevails at UFC 309, he will likely be presented with a litany of options for his next engagement. Previously competing at 145 pounds, the former lightweight has flirted with the idea of shifting gears to 170 pounds for fresh matchups or a possible “superfight” against a top name in that division. Above all, “Do Bronx” wants to work his way back to the championship picture, no matter the twists and turns it will take.
“If UFC offers me a good financial proposal in welterweight, why not accept,” Oliveira admitted. “My goal now is to keep myself in the lightweight division, but in two or three years I may change my mind. I live one day each time. For now, I have a very tough challenge. My focus is 100% on Michael Chandler.”
Earlier in the week, there was a bit of confusion as to the status of UFC 309’s co-main event. Rumors spread that either Oliveira or Chandler had been forced out of the pairing, and that energized a few names looking for big fights on short notice. One such combatant that threw his name in the hat was the boisterous Brazilian Renato Carneiro, who offered to serve as backup if the original pairing fell through.
“Chandler [or] Charles out? Call me,” “Moicano” wrote on Wednesday, tagging the UFC directly. “I fight in 10 days. Time is Money.”
