“That’s a tough one because I can make a case for all of them. I’d love to see Charles… Gaethje has now been… My gut says it’s probably going to be Topuria. It’s unfortunate….but it’s a really tough decision for the UFC.” Michael Chandler rightly said regarding the shark-infested title picture at 155lbs. Moreover, this also highlights the difficult position the company finds itself in as it searches for the most deserving challenger for Islam Makhachev.
The 155lbs division is perhaps the most vaunted weight class in the promotion with the highest skill and with a barrage of bangers after one another. And with Ilia Topuria vacating his 145lbs gold in pursuit of a second title, this situation has only become more complex. A good headache for any promoter but frustrating for the fight fans for sure! More than two months have passed since the Dagestani defended his title for a record fourth time, but the looming question remains unanswered: Who will be next?
Will it be former champion Charles Oliveira, with whom the Dagestani native has unfinished business as their UFC 294 rematch fell apart? Or perhaps Justin Gaethje, the perennial juggernaut Makhachev has yet to face? Then comes the aforementioned ‘El Matador’ who seemingly wants nothing but the Dagestani’s strap. However, ‘Team Khabib’ has already spoken to let us know their mind. The Spanish-Georgian must prove himself against a legitimate 155fer to be seen as a worthy danger to the crown.
Amidst this hubbub, Oliveira hinted at a potential clash with Topuria earlier this week. The former champ told ‘Oddspedia,’ “Whoever I get told to fight, I’m going to fight. I have nothing but respect for Ilia Topuria, but this is lightweight. It’s the most difficult division you have ever seen and I have power in my hands. I believe in my jiu-jitsu, but I believe that I could knock Ilia Topuria out.”
This statement seemed to momentarily ease some of the pressure on Dana White and Co. However, just today, ‘Do Bronx’ shifted his focus back to the lightweight champion. In an interview with Alvaro Colenero, the Brazilian reaffirmed his goal of fighting for the title, saying, “I’m looking for a title, and today, that champion is Islam Makhachev. Topuria is a very tough guy, and he deserves all the respect in the world, but right now, I don’t see it as a big fight. If I’m looking for a title, well, I have to fight Makhachev in order to win and become the champion again.”
In 2021, the Brazilian captured the lightweight belt by defeating Michael Chandler with a knockout at UFC 262, setting a record for the most finishes in UFC history. After successfully defending his title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 269, controversy struck. In his second title defense against Justin Gaethje at UFC 274, Oliveira weighed in 0.5 pounds over the championship limit of 155lbs, resulting in his title being stripped.
This led to criticism from UFC legends like Glover Teixeira and Daniel Cormier. Despite this setback, the UFC gave Oliveira a chance to reclaim the belt when he faced Islam Makhachev for the vacant title at UFC 280. However, the Dagestani extinguished the Sao Paulo native’s hopes with a dominant victory. Now, as Oliveira approaches the later stages of his career, he recognizes this might be his last opportunity to fight for the title. However, Arman Tsarukyan is determined not to let anyone take his spot just yet. Let’s delve deeper into the situation!
Arman Tsarukyan issues a challenge to Charles Oliveira over a title opportunity against Islam Makhachev
Originally, the UFC scheduled Arman Tsarukyan to face Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 earlier this year. However, during fight week, the Armenian suffered a back injury during a grueling weight cut, forcing him to withdraw from the fight. Renato Moicano stepped in on short notice, but Dana White later confirmed that the Armenian export would be given a title opportunity, asking him to go back to the “drawing board.”
Despite this setback, the former title challenger is not one to concede a direct title shot to anyone. When Justin Gaethje made strides toward a potential title fight at UFC 313, Tsarukyan took the opportunity to send a message to both Gaethje and Oliveira, as well as the UFC. He wrote, “Gaethje wants to fight for the title, and it makes sense to fight with me…It’s not going to be fair if he gets a title fight.”
Once again, ‘Ahalkalakets’ took to social media today to reiterate his stance, challenging the eligibility of others and reaffirming his belief that he is the “true contender” for the lightweight title. Tsarukyan wrote, “I’m the true #1 contender, ready to prove it against anyone. But how can I do that when everyone else is just looking for a paper fight? Charles, Justin—either sit and wait, or step up and earn it.”
What do you make of Oliveira’s claims? Is the Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira fight the one that everyone is eagerly anticipating? In your opinion, who truly deserves the next title shot against Islam Makhachev—Justin Gaethje, Ilia Topuria, or Charles Oliveira? Share your thoughts below.
The post Charles Oliveira Changes Tune on Ilia Topuria Fight as Islam Makhachev Put on Alert appeared first on EssentiallySports.
