Oh, Charles Oliveira, that guy’s got plans. Big ones. But, let’s get this straight—he’s not jumping ship to welterweight anytime soon. Well, unless a certain Irishman named Conor McGregor comes calling. That’s the scoop he gave Sherdog, anyway. And it was all before UFC 301 down in Rio, where he wasn’t fighting, but you could spot him in the corner of Elves Brener, cheering on.
“Do Bronx” had a bit of a rough go last time at UFC 300. Took a decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan. Tough pill to swallow, that. But Oliveira? He’s not one to dwell on the could-haves. He reckoned he snagged the best bits of those three rounds. Even thought he clinched the first and the third. But hey, what’s done is done. No drama here, he says.
Moving on’s the game. Oliveira’s been in this fight biz for 14 years, not days, mind you. He’s got his eyes set firmly on what’s ahead. No looking back for this guy.
Then came the buzz about him eyeing the welterweight division. All a big misunderstanding, according to him. Some journo asked if he’d be up for being a backup for Conor vs. Chandler at welterweight. Oliveira said sure, why not? Suddenly, everyone’s saying he’s ditching lightweight. Nah, he’s all about that lightweight belt. But, a tussle with McGregor at 77kg? That, he’d do.
If the backup gig for UFC 303 doesn’t pan out, Oliveira’s itching to get back in the ring. July or August, he’s hoping. Already back to training, he’s not one to sit idle for long.