Charles Oliveira Claims Conor McGregor Rejected Him to Face Max Holloway Instead

UFC BMF champion Charles Oliveira believes he was the original frontrunner to face Conor McGregor in his return at UFC 329.

Charles Oliveira Claims Conor McGregor Rejected Him to Face Max Holloway Instead

Charles Oliveira talks about Conor McGregor fight (via UFC, The Irish Star)

Charles Oliveira remains one of the most dynamic and popular fighters on the UFC roster. Much of that reputation comes from his humble personality and willingness to face any opponent. However, one matchup that has never materialized is a superfight against Conor McGregor. As the Irishman prepares to return at UFC 329, Oliveira revealed he was initially considered for McGregor’s comeback fight.

McGregor last fought in the UFC in 2021, suffering an injury loss to Dustin Poirier in their UFC 264 trilogy bout. Earlier that same year, Oliveira captured the vacant lightweight title with a knockout victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 262. He then completed his first championship defense before the year ended. Oliveira submitted Poirier at UFC 269, further strengthening his position as the undisputed champion.

McGregor will now make his long-awaited UFC return against Max Holloway in a welterweight rematch at UFC 329. The booking finally materialized after months of speculation and uncertainty surrounding the Irish star’s comeback plans. As anticipation builds for the high-profile contest, Oliveira recently weighed in on the matchup. The former lightweight champion also revealed that McGregor chose not to fight him.

He actually asked for the fight to be three rounds, and he picked the opponent. Because, in reality, everyone knows that fight was supposed to be against me, but he chose the opponent… That’s part of the game. You’ve got to choose what you think is best for you.

Charles Oliveira via The Action Network

Oliveira initially expressed interest in fighting McGregor after losing the lightweight title to Islam Makhachev at UFC 280. His manager, Diego Lima, preferred a McGregor matchup over an immediate rematch with Makhachev. However, the fight never materialized as McGregor remained inactive. ‘Do Bronx’ instead continued his career while repeatedly calling out the Irish star in the years that followed.

Oliveira is not the only Brazilian fighter linked to a potential matchup with McGregor. Knockout artist Carlos Prates revealed that he was initially offered the fight before plans changed. Meanwhile, Mauricio Ruffy disclosed that early talks took place regarding a possible bout with the Irishman at the White House event. These discussions highlighted the number of opponents considered for McGregor’s return.

However, Charles Oliveira was also one of the biggest skeptics regarding Conor McGregor’s long-awaited UFC comeback. The Brazilian was vocal about the Irishman’s inactivity and repeatedly questioned whether he would ever return to competition. Now that ‘The Notorious One’ is officially set to fight again at UFC 329, the discussion around a future matchup against the Brazilian superstar may be a possibility.

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English UFC lightweight reveals why Charles Oliveira is next for the undisputed title

The UFC lightweight division has undergone a major shift in recent months after Justin Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 to capture the title. Since then, speculation has surrounded the identity of his first challenger as champion. Charles Oliveira has already entered the conversation. The Brazilian star has also indicated a willingness to put his BMF title on the line in a potential showdown.

Charles Oliveira
Charles Oliveira (via MMA Mania)

However, another standout contender is Arman Tsarukyan, who has been waiting months for a title opportunity. The Armenian was sidelined by the UFC following disciplinary issues that reportedly damaged his standing with UFC CEO Dana White. Despite Tsarukyan’s position in the rankings, Paddy Pimblett recently suggested that Oliveira’s résumé gives him a stronger claim to the next title shot.

I’ve seen Justin say in interviews before that he wants to fight Charles again and get that win back, and fight Max Holloway and get that win back. That’s why I think Charles could be next.

Paddy Pimblett via Mighty podcast

Pimblett himself had been targeting a potential fight with Charles Oliveira as he searched for a high-profile matchup in the lightweight division. The Liverpudlian was looking to rebound from his UFC 324 loss to Justin Gaethje and reenter title contention. However, those plans have shifted in recent weeks. Pimblett is now scheduled to face Benoît Saint Denis at UFC 329 in another major test of his ambitions.

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