Charles Oliveira Vows to Silence Makhachev, Nurmagomedov in Hostile Territory

After months of mystery, the fight between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev was finally confirmed for UFC 280 on Oct. 22 in Abu Dhabi.

“Everybody knows how I wanted to fight in January in Brazil with Conor [McGregor], but he never answered,” Oliveira told Sherdog.com.

The UFC is not expected to return to Brazil until next year, but Oliveira pointed out that Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov were vocal in the media about wanting to face “Do Bronx” on his home soil. Instead, the event will be much closer to Makhachev’s native Dagestan.

“They talked a lot of s—t to the media, that they would go to Brazil to beat me up in front of my fans,” he said. “They had the opportunity to agree to that since I tried hard to make that fight at home, but they never accepted. We even tried to make it in a neutral territory (New York or Las Vegas), but what ended up happening?  The champion will fight on the opponent's home soil for the third consecutive time. But as I proved with Dustin [Poirier] and Justin [Gaethje], that's not a problem. When the cage closes it's just me and my opponent. I´m going to Abu Dhabi to shut Islam and Khabib´s mouth in their home.”

Oliveira respects Makhachev as an opponent, but he made it clear he will not be afraid to go to the ground with the Dagestani grappler.

“I don’t like to focus on what my opponent will bring to me. My focus is always on what I’ll bring to him,” Oliveira said.  “I’m better than him standing up and also on the ground. He said he would beat me on the ground. If he wants we can start the fight from the guard position. He can start from the top.

“I’m the guy who has the most submissions in UFC history. I have the submissions and bonus record. I´m not there to play. They must be careful about what they are saying because I’m the biggest problem of that division. I have three months in camp and I’ll be more than ready to show him what I´m capable of.”

After the fight was confirmed, Brazilian were excited to resume the rivalry between jiu-jitsu and sambo that often shows up on Oliveira’s social media. One of Oliveira´s followers asked him to wear a T-shirt depicting the message “If jiu-jitsu was easy it would be called sambo” in the Octagon if he is victorious at UFC 280, but Oliveira shot that possibility down.

“If Khabib and Islam like to promote fights disrespecting other martial arts, that´s not my style,” he said. “I respect all styles and would never do that. And I’ve been saying that we must be careful about what we talk about. Who are the last opponents Makhachev defeated and how did he defeat them? I beat all the toughest guys of the division via submission or knock out. I don’t leave it in the judges’ hands, I make it happen.”

While speculation has been rampant that Nurmagomedov would end his retirement to avenge his teammate if Oliveira were to defeat Makhachev, “Do Bronx” believes it’s more likely that the ex-lightweight champ lives up to his word. However, he is confident that the title of No. 1 lightweight belongs to him.

“If you look all my numbers and the level of the opponents I have beaten, I don’t think that title is even in dispute. The best lightweight now is Charles Oliveira. If Khabib really promised retirement [after his father’s deat], I think he will respect that. I don’t believe a religious guy like him would break that promise. But if I submit Makhachev and he wants that fight, first we have to talk about money with UFC.”

Oliveira is also willing to face featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in a superfight if he is victorious at UFC 280.

“Of course I´m a 100% focused on Makhachev, who is a very tough opponent,” Oliveira said. “But if God blesses me with a win with no injuries, my team already knows that my focus is to make the main event in Brazil in January against Volkanovski, who is a great fighter and very respecful.”