Former UFC light weight champion Charles Oliveira believes that Ilia Topuria stands for an rude awakening at 155 pounds.
Charles Oliveira may get a chance of revenge on UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev in his next fight. But after the addition of Ilia Topuria to the lightweight title mix, Oliveira's Redemption Tour can hit a speed bump on the way back to Makhachev.
Oliveira defeated Michael Chandler at the UFC 309 Co-Main event in November; Cementing himself as a top candidate and his former rival for the championship. After his victory, Oliveira called for a title shot and an opportunity to reclaim the lightweight throne.
After eliminating Oliveira's former rival Max Holloway in October, Topuria announced a full -time step to lightweight and his vacation of the title of featherweight. Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will fight for the Topuria belt on UFC 314 next month.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Charles Oliveira welcomes Ilia Topuria Fight for number 1 lightweight competition
Oliveira knows a few things about making the move from 145 to 155 pounds and the rut of a hunter proving itself in a new division. Despite the one -off history of Topuria at lightweight, he could possibly get an immediate title shot about Oliveira and the other top candidates waiting in the wings.
But Oliveira sent Topuria a strict warning about not only to lightweight, but also for a potential booking between the two stars.
During a recent interview with OddSPedia, Oliveira welcomed a collision with Topuria for the return of the Vederweight Champion to the Division.
“Whoever I have to fight, I'm going to fight. I have nothing but respect for Ilia Topuria, but this is lightweight,” said Oliveira about the lightweight movement of Topuria.
“It is the most difficult division you've ever seen and I have power in my hands. I believe in my Jiu-Jitsu, but I believe I could eliminate Ilia Topuria.”
A no. 1 competition between Oliveira and Topuria would be very logical in the lightweight division. UFC CEO Dana White was vague when he recently asked that Topuria was given an immediate title shot, which opened the door for at least one fight for a possible Makhachev collision.
Oliveira wants to go back to the lightweight throne after a loss of submission at Makhachev on UFC 280. He has won two of his last three fights since the defeat of Makhachev, including a TKO victory on Beneil Dariush on UFC 289.
Ilia Topuria teased Big Fight News 'You won loved' prior to lightweight return
Topuria has fed speculation about his next fight by claiming 'You will not believe' what the UFC matchmakers have in store for him. This opened the door to potential collisions with Oliveira, Dustin Poirier or Justin Gaethje before the start of his lightweight chapter.
Oliveira is also linked to a potential collision with Holloway for the BMF belt of the latter, after the two traded repetitions on social media. Holloway previously defeated Oliveira in their career in a featherweight fight in August 2015.
Topuria and Oliveira can rather be on a collision course later. In the meantime, the tensions continue to rise between Topuria and some of the top light weights in MMA.
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