Charles Oliveira is as focused as ever on UFC 309, cementing a professional legacy that will last for generations to come.
Oliveira meets Michael Chandler in a rematch on Saturday in the five-round co-main event of UFC 309, which takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York. While “Do Bronx” is focused on a rematch with Chandler for a chance to fight for the lightweight title, Oliveira knows another rematch could be in his future with Max Holloway, now that the BMF champion has moved up to lightweight following his knockout loss. Ilya Topuria at UFC 308.
“I’m talking about legacy,” Oliveira told MMA Fighting. “That would be great. Why not? Like I’m talking about.” [legacy]I mean being a BMF champion would be huge for that.
In his first round with Holloway, Oliveira suffered an injury 1:39 into the fight, giving Holloway the TKO victory.
Oliveira’s history with Chandler is a bit different. In May 2021, he faced Oliveira Chandler for the vacant lightweight title, and after a tough first round, fought back to prevent Chandler from winning his first UFC title at UFC 262.
Chandler has been linked to Conor McGregor for about two years, and the fight was scheduled for UFC 303 in June before McGregor was forced to withdraw due to injury.
When Oliveira was introduced with Chandler, he wasn’t surprised, and he wouldn’t be with any opponent the UFC offered.
“Listen, I’m ready, I’m happy, I’m very excited,” Oliveira said. “I’m just waiting for the day to come.
“I just love this opportunity. I’m always ready to fight and I believe that whatever the UFC says, I’m ready to go. They know that I’m ready to fight and I know that I’m going to win this fight and that I’m next in line.” [for the title]. “This is how I feel.”
Oliveira is looking to get back into the win column after losing a decision to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300 in April. Tsarukyan will likely face Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title next, but if Oliveira can defeat Chandler, Oliveira puts himself in a great position to try and reclaim his place on the lightweight throne.
As focused as he is on the task at hand, Oliveira looks back on his first meeting with Chandler fondly, and hopes to use that performance to perform even better in the world’s most famous arena.
“Without a doubt, the spirit of it [first] He fights [is with me] And that’s always just it [focusing on] “Getting to this fight, moving forward, coming out with the win,[andtomakesurethatmyhandisraised”Oliveiraexplained[والتأكدمنرفعيدي”[andtomakesurethatmyhandisraised”Oliveiraexplained
“Listen, we practice all the time. We try to prepare. So I want to be ready, but our idea is to be better. It doesn’t matter what we did before, we’ll be better than the last time. That’s what I do. That’s what I train for, and no matter what What’s going on, I want to raise my hand on Saturday.
