It is not our victories that truly define us, rather how we act in face of hostility and defeat reveals our true selves. Former UFC Lightweight champion Charles Oliveira learned this lesson the hard way as the Brazilian’s undefeated 11-fight win streak got brutally broken by Islam Makhachev on UFC 280. Now the BJJ practitioner is looking to make a comeback.
Charles decided to take a break from fighting following his first defeat in years as the fight took a toll on him both physically and mentally. A rematch with Makhachev was rumored and big names like Beneil Dariush and Rafael Fiziev were thrown around as potential opponents. But the 33-year-old declined all offers demanding more time to recover.
Unfortunately, Lightweight is arguably the most stacked division in the UFC and it’s difficult to hang around the top rankings of the division as a placeholder without facing tough opponents. And now in a recent interview, ‘Do Bronx’ finally teased his big comeback match with his eyes set on the March/April period during an interview with AgFight.
The Brazillian wants to take another shot at the belt as soon as possible, “I’ve been a long way from that belt. Today, I’m one fight away from him. UFC knows that – knows that I want. I didn’t come here to play. I came to make history. I want to fight around the end of March, April, that’s my timing. I need to fight on that date. And I need a guy who (is) winning, will definitely be the next challenger for the title.”
The former champion detailed how his and the current champion’s paths may collide again, “He (Islam Makhachev) will fight now in February, so I, in March, April, caught a guy who puts me in front of the goal again for the title at the end of the year. For sure {just one more fight to the belt}. Now I fight in March, April, and at the end of the year for the title again.”
Who do you think Charles Oliveira should face in his comeback match?
