Vinicius Oliveira plans to challenge Sean O’Malley after his UFC 318 fight with Kyler Phillips, predicting a quick victory and aiming for a top 5 opponent, while advising O’Malley to decline the fight due to potential risk.
Vinicius Oliveira plans to challenge former UFC champ Sean O’Malley after his UFC 318 bout with Kyler Phillips in New Orleans. However, he advises O’Malley to decline the challenge.
Since debuting in 2024, Oliveira has secured three consecutive wins, earning performance bonuses against Bernardo Sopaj and Said Nurmagomedov. He anticipates a swift victory over top bantamweight Phillips, marking a pivotal moment in his UFC career.
“I’ll fight a top 12 now and prove I’m a top 12,” Oliveira shared with MMA Fighting. He envisions a leap to fighting top 5 contenders or even vying for the belt, feeling he has little left to prove in his division.
Despite the challenge, Oliveira acknowledges the difficulty of such a career jump. “I started against Ricky Simon, which was already a gigantic jump,” he noted, expressing hope for another significant leap if he delivers a standout performance.
Oliveira aims to join the Fight Night card in Rio de Janeiro on Oct. 11 but recognizes the challenge of enticing top-ranked opponents to face him in Brazil. He remains open to fighting globally, targeting a star like O’Malley, who seeks to recover from losses to Merab Dvalishvili.
“I don’t think anyone in the top 5 would want to fight me because I’m down there [in the rankings],” Oliveira stated, ruling out Umar Nurmagomedov and Merab as options. He considers O’Malley a potential opponent, praising his versatility despite recent setbacks.
“If he buys the idea, this fight happens,” Oliveira said, emphasizing the role of promotion and trash talk. He speculates O’Malley might prefer facing a top 12 opponent, perceiving them as less risky than top 5 fighters.
Oliveira suggests Marlon Vera as another option, offering flexibility on weight. “I’ll make weight and he can come at any weight he wants,” he said confidently.
Regardless of the opponent, Oliveira expects a significant fight after showcasing his skills against Phillips at UFC 318. “He knows he’s getting knocked out, right?” Oliveira quipped, predicting a swift finish.