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USA Today
18-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Charles Oliveira: UFC fans 'should forget about Conor McGregor coming back'
Conor McGregor is no longer on Charles Oliveira's radar. Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) had long campaigned for a fight with McGregor in the past but no longer sees him as a potential opponent. In fact, he doesn't see him as an opponent for anybody as he questions if McGregor will ever compete again. McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) hasn't fought since breaking his leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. He was scheduled to return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 last June but withdrew due to a broken pinky toe. Chandler eventually moved on and fought Oliveira, who won by unanimous decision at UFC 309. 'To be honest, I don't know why people are still talking about Conor McGregor,' Oliveira said in an interview with online sportsbook Oddspedia. 'He has done everything he wanted to do in the sport, and now he chooses to live his life the way he is living. 'We were waiting for his return, and Michael Chandler was waiting for about two years, but he didn't show up. I think the fans should forget about Conor McGregor coming back. He isn't going to fight again.' The idea of McGregor returning seems further and further away with the former UFC two-division champion recently adding politics to his out-of-cage activities. McGregor met with with President Donald Trump at the White House on St. Patrick's Day 'to raise the issues the people of Ireland face.' The 36-year-old has also been dealing with legal issues after an Irish civil jury found him liable for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand months ago. He's also facing a lawsuit in the U.S. alleging sexual battery at a 2023 NBA Finals game in Miami.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Charles Oliveira explains how Paddy Pimblett will be hard for Michael Chandler to beat
The longer his UFC 314 fight with Paddy Pimblett lasts, the worse it will be for Michael Chandler – or so believes former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. Pimblett is gearing up for the biggest fight of his career against former Bellator champion and UFC title challenger Chandler on April 12 at Kaseya Center in Miami. The UFC 314 co-main event is scheduled for five rounds, something that Oliveira believes plays to Pimblett's advantage. "Michael Chandler is a very aggressive and explosive guy. I have nothing but respect for him. He has power in his hands," Oliveira said in an interview with online sportsbook Oddspedia. "On the other side, you have a younger guy that believes in himself, moves very well and has really good jiu-jitsu and also a good standup game. He moves well, but experience counts for a lot. 'In the first two rounds, Chandler has a chance to knock him out because of how explosive he is. But if the fight goes into the third round, I believe it's going to be hard for Chandler because Paddy is younger, and he's very talented.' Chandler, 38, has made a splash in the UFC ever since his debut in January 2021, but it hasn't been because of his positive results. He's just 2-4 inside the octagon, including a title-fight knockout loss to Oliveira and another defeat in their rematch last November, as he's been nothing short of an action fighter. Pimblett, 30, has experienced a slow build since his UFC debut in September 2021, going 6-0 inside the octagon. He most recently scored an impressive submission of King Green last July at UFC 304. The hope for Pimblett is to use Chandler as a springboard into serious title contention for the first time in his career. If Pimblett is victorious, Oliveira looks forward to potentially crossing paths with him, 'I've been watching Paddy Pimblett for a while," Oliveira said. "He talks a lot, and the people at the UFC love that, but right now he has a really important fight coming up, and it's going to be a really tough test. If he keeps climbing the ranks then we are going to fight, that's for sure." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Charles Oliveira explains how Paddy Pimblett will be hard for Michael Chandler to beat
USA Today
18-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Charles Oliveira explains how Paddy Pimblett will be hard for Michael Chandler to beat
The longer his UFC 314 fight with Paddy Pimblett lasts, the worse it will be for Michael Chandler – or so believes former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. Pimblett is gearing up for the biggest fight of his career against former Bellator champion and UFC title challenger Chandler on April 12 at Kaseya Center in Miami. The UFC 314 co-main event is scheduled for five rounds, something that Oliveira believes plays to Pimblett's advantage. 'Michael Chandler is a very aggressive and explosive guy. I have nothing but respect for him. He has power in his hands,' Oliveira said in an interview with online sportsbook Oddspedia. 'On the other side, you have a younger guy that believes in himself, moves very well and has really good jiu-jitsu and also a good standup game. He moves well, but experience counts for a lot. 'In the first two rounds, Chandler has a chance to knock him out because of how explosive he is. But if the fight goes into the third round, I believe it's going to be hard for Chandler because Paddy is younger, and he's very talented.' Chandler, 38, has made a splash in the UFC ever since his debut in January 2021, but it hasn't been because of his positive results. He's just 2-4 inside the octagon, including a title-fight knockout loss to Oliveira and another defeat in their rematch last November, as he's been nothing short of an action fighter. Pimblett, 30, has experienced a slow build since his UFC debut in September 2021, going 6-0 inside the octagon. He most recently scored an impressive submission of King Green last July at UFC 304. The hope for Pimblett is to use Chandler as a springboard into serious title contention for the first time in his career. If Pimblett is victorious, Oliveira looks forward to potentially crossing paths with him, 'I've been watching Paddy Pimblett for a while,' Oliveira said. 'He talks a lot, and the people at the UFC love that, but right now he has a really important fight coming up, and it's going to be a really tough test. If he keeps climbing the ranks then we are going to fight, that's for sure.'
USA Today
17-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
All Charles Olveira wants next is to fight for a UFC title belt 'either way'
Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira isn't sure how he fits into the suddenly crowded top of the 155-pound division, but he knows he wants his next fight to be for a title belt. 'The division is very complicated,' Oliveira said in an interview with online sportsbook Oddspedia. 'I think I deserve to be next in line, but I work for Zuffa. There is talk about Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Ilia Topuria. I'm just waiting on the call. I don't know who is next. There is talk, but I just don't know.' The possibilities seem endless coming out of last week's UFC 313 where Justin Gaethje defeated Rafael Fiziev in another barnburner between the two. Afterward, Gaethje made his case for a shot at Islam Makhachev, especially since he represents the only fresh matchup of the top three fighters officially ranked behind the reigning UFC champion. Arman Tsarukyan, No.1, and No. 2 Oliveira have both been beaten by Makhachev before, although Tsarukyan lost out on his chance at a rematch in January by withdrawing from their UFC 311 title fight. No. 3 Gaethje is certainly also under consideration, but there's a potential X-factor in Ilia Topuria, who is vacating his featherweight title for a move to lightweight. If Topuria doesn't get an immediate title shot at 155 pounds, Oliveira wouldn't mind welcoming him to the division. 'Whoever I get told to fight, I'm going to fight,' Oliveira said. '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 Illa Topuria out.' A fight with Topuria, however, wouldn't be for a UFC belt. And if it's not a title-fight rematch with Makhachev that comes next, Oliveira prefers to run it back with Max Holloway for his BMF title belt. 'A fight against Max Holloway would be huge, and I'm confident that it would be me with my arm raised,' Oliveira said. 'The first time we fought I had an injury that stopped me performing. We are both aggressive fighters, and I believe in the power in my hands, as well as my BJJ. There would be a lot of hype around the fight. 'I would be chasing the knockout, and the BMF means the toughest guy in the division, right? I want to show that I'm the toughest guy in the division. When we speak about legacy, we speak about being the champion, but BMF is about being the toughest guy, and that's what I consider myself to be in this division. I believe that I have shown that, and having the BMF belt is the only thing that is missing.' Oliveira, who's coming off an entertaining win over Michael Chandler last November, remains unclear as to what his future holds. But as long as he fights for a belt next, he'll be happy. 'I want to fight for a title either way,' Oliveira said. 'Now I'm just sitting waiting for the call.'
