Coach: Charles Oliveira Would Likely Be Willing to Face Conor McGregor at 170 Pounds

The past week of training camp was full of positive news for UFC lightweight champ Charles Oliveira and his head coach, Diego Lima.

In addition to receiving a visit from master Rudimar Fedrigo, founder of the Chute Boxe team, they also officially announced a historic partnership that will help not only their team, but also Brazilian MMA as a whole.

"We are very happy to announce the sponsorship with Prevent Senior Group and New One. From now on all Chute Boxe Diego Lima fighters will have a full health insurance program. From doctors to surgeries and physiotherapy — everything is included,” Lima told Sherdog. “Prevent has the biggest hospital network in the country. For sure that´s the first partnership between a team and a big health insurance company in Brazil and probably around the world, too.”

Regarding Oliveira’s first title defense against Dustin Poirier in the UFC 269 headliner on Dec. 11, Lima praised the champion’s work in camp.

“Rarely in his long UFC career has Charles had the opportunity to have a full camp like this one. Thank God we have a lot of sparring partners with different styles to help him, and he is going to be ready for any challenge Poirier brings,” Lima said.

Lima promised that Oliveira will have a multi-faceted game plan in place when he stands across from Poirier at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

"We never make only one strategy for a fight,” Lima said. “For sure Poirier has watched all [Oliveira’s] fights. Dustin is a complete fighter and a very intelligent guy who has all the support of a great team. What I can say is that Charles will be ready for any song Poirier brings, but we will make him dance to our song. The only thing we don’t want is to leave the result in the judge's hands.”

As far as making a prediction for the UFC 269 main event, the Chute Boxe leader’s response was fast and sharp.

"I expect a win via submission from Charles,” he said.

Lima also discussed the statement made by former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov claiming that the upcoming UFC Fight Night headliner between Islam Makhachev and Beneil Dariush highlights the best of the division and should have a belt on the line.

“Islam is his cousin. Today trash talk plays an important role in our game,” Lima said. “But as a fighter and a great legend of the sport that he is, I'm sure he is aware this is not truth. He knows Charles is the current champion and Poirier is really the one who is more deserving to fight for the belt in the current moment. Charles fought 27 times in 11 years in the UFC until he got a title shot. Khabib also had a hard path. His cousin has just five or six years in the UFC. He should be advising Makhachev to keep winning and be patient; his time will come.”

             While a win over Poirier would likely set up fights against either Justin Gaethje or the Makhachev-Dariush winner, Lima wouldn’t rule out a potential Conor McGregor matchup for Oliveira.

“Mcgregor is a villain for Brazilian fans. Also, because of everything he represents and all the records he has set in our sport, Charles would love to face him,” Lima said. “If [McGregor] doesn't want to return to 155 pounds, I believe Charles would be willing to face him at 170. Brazilian fans deserve revenge for that fight with [Jose] Aldo, and I would love to have Charles be the one who removes the bad taste from the Brazilian fan’s mouths.”