“I’m the next challenger, I have a chance to fight for the belt” Charles Oliveira eyeing lightweight title

“I’m the next challenger, I have a chance to fight for the belt” Charles Oliveira eyeing lightweight title
Charles Oliveira

Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement at UFC 254 after beating Justin Gaethje. “The eagle” has stepped away from the sport with quite possibly one of the greatest careers, with a 29-0 undefeated streak and an undisputed title. However, now that he’s gone, the question arises about who the next champ could be. And it looks like one particular fighter has stepped up.

Charles Oliveira holds the longest winning streak in the UFC lightweight division after Nurmagomedov. And “do Bronx” believes that alone should suffice to grant him a shot at the belt that has since become vacant.

“I want to fight someone ranked ahead of me,”: Oliveira on potential opponents

Charles Oliveira

The UFC is yet to announce the contenders for the undisputed title next, but the Brazilian believes that he’s the obvious choice. “For everyone that loves fights or makes a living out of this, MMA reporters, that’s easy math,” Oliveira said in an interview. “I have the longest winning streak today, I don’t leave it in the hands of the judges, I finish them all.

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Everyone ranked ahead of me is coming off a loss (in the division). The only exception is Dustin Poirier. I think it’s only fair that I’m the next challenger, that I have a chance to fight for the belt,” he added.

Moreover, Oliveira wants to fight someone who’s ranked higher up than him for the title. “Justin Gaethje, Dan Hooker, Tony Ferguson, I want to fight someone ranked ahead of me,” Oliveira said. “Charles Oliveira is ranked No. 6 now. Between No. 1 and 5, bring any of them. Dan Hooker said he’d fight in late-November and we’re almost in November now. I’ll fight him, no problem at all. I don’t want to fight someone ranked below me. I’ve been saying this since the beginning of the year. I’m not asking for too much,” he claimed.

With McGregor facing Poirier next year, many believe it could be for the lightweight title. And if that is indeed the case, we sure are in for an exciting year ahead for UFC.

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