Charles Oliveira is eager to run it back with Islam Makhachev after seeing what unfolded in the UFC 311 main event.
Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) easily dispatched of replacement opponent Renato Moicano by first-round submission on Saturday at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., and Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) was seated cageside for the title contest.
Arman Tsarukyan was originally scheduled to fight Makhachev on the card, but withdrew on weigh-in day due to injury. UFC CEO Dana White said the decision to pull out will cost him a title shot with Makhachev and he’ll need to win more fights, opening the question about who will be next to challenge the 155-pound champ.
For Oliveira, however, it’s not much of a discussion at all.
“It was a great fight,” Oliveira said in a cageside video released by UFC. “He is the champion. He did what he had to do. But I’m next, and he knows that. The lightweight champion is called Charles Oliveira. I’m ready for that.”
Makhachev defeated Oliveira by second-round submission in a vacant title contest at UFC 280 in October 2022. Although Oliveira lost to Tsarukyan at UFC 300 in April, he bounced back in November with a unanimous decision over Michael Chandler at UFC 309, putting himself in position for the rematch with Makhachev.
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 311.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Charles Oliveira sends message to Islam Makhachev after UFC 311: ‘I’m next’
