Why is Charles Oliveira not fighting in UFC 288?

Charles Oliveira on losing his title shot against Islam Makhachev and cancelling UFC 288

Why is Charles Oliveira not fighting in UFC 288?

Charles Oliveira ,Beneil Dariush (MMA fighting /MMA junkie)

Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush were scheduled for a head-on collision at UFC 288. However, due to unforeseen injury, the fight was forced to be canceled.

Charles Oliveira took to Instagram to reveal the news of his injury. He revealed that the injury had led him unable to train properly for UFC 288. “I wasn’t able to train, I got injured during wrestling practice,” Oliveira said. “I tried to train, I tried to do everything I could but we couldn’t, so we pulled out of the fight.”

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Charles Oliveira’s long reign as the UFC Lightweight Champion came to an end when Islam Makhachev took away his title at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi. Thus a victory against Beneil Dariush would put him closer to another shot at the title.

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“I have to stay [away from training] for a few days so I can go back to training soon, and then we’ll reschedule the fight,” Oliveira had said. Well now, Dana White has rescheduled the fight. The promotion officially postponed it to UFC 289. Oliveira vs Dariush will now headline the co-main event in Canada instead of New Jersey where UFC 288 will be held at the Prudential Center in Newark.

Related: “UFC didn’t want to do it” – Beneil Dariush forced out of UFC 288 despite accepting a fight against a rising prospect after Charles Oliveira’s fight fallout

Charles Oliveira’s losing his UFC Lightweight title

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(Image source: L/R- gettyimages.in)

Charles Oliveira lost his UFC Lightweight title back in UFC 274 when he was unable to make weight. And thus, the UFC stripped the belt off of him. Fast forward to UFC 280, Dana White gives him a chance to reclaim his title against Islam Makhachev, but he fell short, losing the bout via submission in the second round.

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“I don’t even watch that fight. I haven’t watched it,” Oliveira revealed on The MMA Hour. “ I’ve watched all the fights that I’ve lost, but that fight is the only one I haven’t watched and won’t watch.

Oliveira admitted that Islam was better than him in that fight. “He was better than me that night and won. Next time we meet, I won’t change anything, I’ll continue being the same Charles moving forward. I wouldn’t change a thing.” Oliveira has not given up on his hopes of reclaiming the title. Now with rumors of Makhachev potentially moving up to the Welterweight division, he may have to change course accordingly or it may prove to be a golden opportunity for the Brazilian.

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