Diego Lima, coach and manager of Charles Oliveira, believes that the winner of Oliveira’s UFC 300 bout with Arman Tsarukyan will face lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, despite Makhachev’s apparent reluctance to fight Oliveira again.
Diego Lima, Charles Oliveira’s coach and manager, has faith. He’s banking on the victor of Oliveira’s UFC 300 clash with Arman Tsarukyan getting a shot at lightweight champ Islam Makhachev. He’s not blind, though. He knows Makhachev will likely dodge the matchup like a bullet.
Remember when UFC CEO Dana White dropped the bombshell? Oliveira vs. Tsarukyan, April 13, Las Vegas. The winner gets a shot at the belt. Makhachev, however, had other ideas. He spilled his 2024 plans on Twitter, teasing a June 8 showdown with Justin Gaethje. Then, a November date with either Oliveira or Tsarukyan at Madison Square Garden’s traditional pay-per-view event.
Lima’s not here to stir the pot, but he’s got something to say. “Makhachev is top-tier, no doubt. He’s the champ for a reason. But, let’s be real, he’s avoiding Charles like the plague. He’s looking for any escape route possible. It’s glaringly obvious. Not to discredit him, but he’d rather face anyone else, even move up a division.”
Lima’s not buying Makhachev’s plans. He’s convinced the winner of Oliveira vs. Tsarukyan will face Makhachev. There’s no escape. Look at Gaethje’s last six fights, Poirier’s, Dariush’s. There’s no one else. It’s gotta be Charles. It’s clear as day Makhachev doesn’t want a rematch. Not to diminish his victory, but it wasn’t Charles’ night. If they go toe-to-toe again, Lima’s betting on a different outcome.
Oliveira was next in line to face Makhachev after his knockout win over Dariush in June. But a cut forced him to pull out of the Abu Dhabi card. Talks of rescheduling were in the air until Makhachev got injured. Now, he can’t defend his belt until after Ramadan. With Makhachev out till late 2024, Oliveira had to keep moving.
“Makhachev usually fights in Abu Dhabi around October, but what if he fights in August? Is it worth waiting a year for him?” Lima pondered. “Out of sight, out of mind. What if we wait, and Tsarukyan, who’s on a roll, scores a knockout win over Gaethje or Poirier? Who’s to say it won’t be him facing Makhachev in October instead of Charles? Anything can happen.”
Lima knows they need to play it smart. “Charles can’t afford to sit idle. We can’t risk not fighting. We needed a fight before Makhachev to stay sharp. And we couldn’t settle for a low-ranked opponent. We needed a top contender. Tsarukyan was our top pick, hence the fight.”
Despite Oliveira’s massive following, losing his UFC champion status means no pay-per-view points at UFC 300. But Lima assures they negotiated a good deal. He even thought about suggesting an interim belt for the Tsarukyan fight, given Makhachev’s injury. But he decided against it. The real prize is Makhachev’s belt.
“Charles is psyched about the UFC 300 fight,” Lima revealed. “He’s a keen observer, and Tsarukyan is one fighter he enjoys watching. Charles thrives on challenges. His UFC career is a testament to that. This is the best fight for us, the best opportunity.”