Former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira is taking his time to recover from a deep cut over his eye, ensuring that he can re-book the fight with Islam Makhachev in the near future, as his main goal is to win back the UFC title.
Charles Oliveira suffered a severe cut over his eye, which prevented him from having a rematch with Islam Makhachev at UFC 294. However, Oliveira is not rushing his return to the gym because he wants to ensure that he recovers fully before rebooking the fight. The former lightweight champion received medical attention for his injury and plans to take his time to prevent any further issues that could hinder his comeback. Oliveira mentioned that the cut was deep but stated that he has no fights scheduled at the moment, allowing him to focus on a good recovery before getting back to the gym.
Although Oliveira couldn’t compete in Abu Dhabi, he watched the fights and witnessed Makhachev deliver an impressive first-round knockout against Alexander Volkanovski, who had replaced him on short notice. Oliveira commended Makhachev’s striking abilities and expressed his congratulations to Volkanovski for facing Makhachev in such a challenging fight. Despite this setback, Oliveira remains Makhachev’s next opponent according to UFC CEO Dana White. Rumors have circulated that the lightweight title fight rematch may take place in January, but Oliveira clarified that he hasn’t received official confirmation from the UFC regarding the timeline.
Oliveira has promised an improved performance in his rematch against Makhachev compared to their previous encounter, where Makhachev dominated Oliveira both on the feet and on the ground. Oliveira stated that fans can expect to see his typical style, always pushing forward and seeking submissions or knockouts in his pursuit of victory. While avenging his loss to Makhachev is important to Oliveira, his ultimate goal is to regain the UFC title he previously held. Makhachev is just another obstacle standing in his way of achieving that goal.
Oliveira’s determination is focused on becoming the next champion, emphasizing that winning back the UFC title means everything to him. He remains committed to his training and preparation, hoping to secure a rematch with Makhachev in the near future and showcase his championship-worthy skills once again.