Islam Makhachev turned down to fight in Brazil! Charles Oliveira makes bold claim about the Dagestani


Islam Makhachev turned down to fight in Brazil! Charles Oliveira makes bold claim about the Dagestani

Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira

Charles Oliveira is not happy that the fight against Islam Makhachev is taking place at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi. The former lightweight champion was very much looking forward to fighting in his own country in 2023. “Do Bronx” hints that Islam and his team, despite all the talk of being open to fighting anywhere in the world, refused to fight in Brazil for the lightweight title.

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At UFC 280, the world will have a new UFC lightweight champion. The fight takes place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The main event of the pay-per-view event, Charles Oliveira vs Islam Makhachev is one of the most-anticipated fights of this year. While many are excited about this upcoming matchup, Charles had another fight in mind that he wanted to get done with before giving Islam a chance for the belt.

Charles wanted to fight UFC superstar Conor McGregor in Rio, Brazil but is instead fighting Dagestani, Islam Makhachev in Abu Dhabi. In an interview with Ag Fight, the Brazilian superstar makes a bold claim that Islam and his team refused to fight in front of Brazilian fans. As far as the Dagestanis, Islam and his teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov have publicly said that they would more than willing to fight in Rio but the UFC has booked them to fight in October instead.

Related: “Let them fight anywhere”-Khabib Nurmagomedov open to set up Islam Makhachev vs Charles Oliveira clash in Brazil

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“They took the fight where they wanted” – Charles Oliveira bashes Islam and team

Charles Oliveira x Islam Makhachev
Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira

Though Abu Dhabi is not exactly home turf for Makhachev, it clearly is an advantage for the Dagestani given the fan following he and his friend, Khabib Nurmagomedov have in that part of the world. Khabib himself has admitted that Abu Dhabi is his territory. In the Ag Fight interview, Charles said, “Everyone knows who I wanted to fight [Conor McGregor]. I don’t think this Makhachev fight should have happened now.”

“They talked so much about how they would take the fight in Brazil. That’s a lie. If they had accepted to fight in Brazil, we would be fighting in January. I talked so much about that Rio card,” added Oliveira about Islam and his team refusing to fight in January. The UFC boss, Dana White has said that the promotion will be heading to Brazil at the beginning of 2023 and Oliveira was very excited to fight for the belt there.

Also read: “He tried to make money” – Islam Makhachev alleges that Charles Oliveira was trying to avoid him

“The truth is that they talked, talked, talked, but took the fight to where they wanted. It’s ok. The octagon is the same anywhere in the world,” added Charles in the interview.

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Charles lost his belt to the weighing scale in his last bout against Justin Gaethje. The title remains to be vacant and is up for grabs. Charles is on an 11-fight winning streak while Islam is on a 10-fight winning streak. Title fights don’t get more exciting. Who do you have winning this amazing bout?

Also read: “He don’t have ground game” – Khabib Nurmagomedov gives shocking remark on Charles Oliveira’s skills