Charles Oliveira has his eyes set on gold.
The former UFC lightweight champion is currently one of many names linked to a potential showdown with the undefeated (in the UFC) former Cage Warriors champion Paddy Pimblett, who earlier this month scored a career-best win with a third-round finish of former Bellator stalwart Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in Miami, Florida.
Following the fight, Liverpool man Pimblett listed off a series of top-ranked 155-pounders with whom he’d like to tangle as he states his case for a shot against reigning champion Islam Makhachev — but one of those names, Oliveira, has issued a stern response.
“I’m thinking about fighting for a belt, so there’s no reason to think about guys that are [ranked] below me, only those ahead of me,” Oliveira told Brazilian media after translation, as noted by MMA Fighting.
“He’s a tough kid, he’s on a good rise, fighting really well, but I don’t even think about it,” Oliveira added. “All these guys [ranked below] come saying talking, trying to get a fight and get to the top. They’re not wrong, each one sells a fight their way. There was a time I poked at others to get a fight with top 5 guys. It’s part [of the game]. It would be a great fight, but not for the moment I’m in right now.”
Universally regarded as one of the finest submission grapplers in lightweight history, Oliveira last competed in November — also against Chandler — in a fight he won by unanimous decision and has since spoken of pursuing either the 155-pound title, or the ‘BMF’ belt currently held by his former opponent Max Holloway.
“I’m going for the belt. That’s what I want,” be explained. “I’ve mentioned the BMF because I thought Islam would only come back in October and I wanted to fight at International Fight Week, but then Islam said he wants to fight on Fight Week and I stopped looking at Max Holloway for the BMF belt. He’s aiming for the date I want, but now there’s this confusion.
“I want the belt, but I don’t run from anyone. I never ran, and won’t start running now. I’m ready to fight any of those guys. I respect them, but I’ll impose my rhythm and my game. Why not [Topuria]? If it’s for the belt, why not fight Topuria? I’m going for the title. I don’t want to fight another fight and then wait for the title. That doesn’t interest me.”
