Charles Oliveira doesn’t see Ilia Topuria ‘as a big fight,’ Topuria responds
Charles Oliveira only wants the biggest opponents right now, and he doesn’t include Ilia Topuria on that list.
In an interview with ABC MMA, Oliveira addressed what could be next for him as he awaits his next booking. “Do Bronx” is coming off of a Fight of the Night-winning decision over Michael Chandler at UFC 309 and remains one of the top contenders for the 155-pound title, currently held by Islam Makhachev.
Oliveira and Makhachev previously fought at UFC 280, where Makhachev won via second-round submission, and Oliveira is eager to run it back with the champ. Topuria—the current featherweight champion set to relinquish his belt soon as he moves up to lightweight—has spoken about possibly fighting Oliveira to earn a shot at Makhachev, but Oliveira isn’t keen on the idea.
“I think there are a lot of things,” Oliveira said in Portuguese (translation via ABC MMA). “A lot of people are saying a lot of things. But I’m looking for a title, and today’s champion is Islam Makhachev. So, Topuria is a very tough guy. He deserves all the respect in the world.
“But right now, I don’t see it as a big fight. And if I’m looking for a title, well, I have to fight Makhachev in order to win and become champion again.”
Oliveira also recently said that if he were to fight the undefeated Topuria, he believes he can defeat Topuria by knockout.
It’s not clear which of Oliveira’s recent statements irked Topuria, but “El Matador” took to social media to respond to Oliveira anyway and he didn’t hold back, telling Oliveira to “stay quiet.”
Charles, it’s better if you stay quiet. You have 10 losses: 5 by knockout, 4 by submission, and 1 by decision. You are the contender, while I am the champion, the father of the entire division. I haven’t come here to ask anything. Here, I am the one in charge.
Topuria aims to become a two-division champion following an 8-0 run to start his UFC career, which includes back-to-back knockouts of featherweight legends Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski in his most recent outings.