In a conversation with journalist Aron Bronsteter earlier this month, former lightweight UFC champion Charles Oliveira revealed that he would not be ready to take on Islam Makhachev for the lightweight crown in October at UFC 294 at Abu Dhabi. In a Tweet replying to Oliveira’s comments, Makhachev manager Ali Abdelaziz had made clear that Islam would be fighting in Abu Dhabi. 

So, it came as a surprise to many when the UFC announced Oliveira would be rematching Makhachev in Abu Dhabi after his second-round submission defeat in their first encounter. This includes legendary MMA referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy and co-host and former UFC fighter Josh ‘Punk’ Thomson, who, on their Weighing In podcast, thought the Brazilian had been done dirty by the UFC.

Josh Thomson thinks Charles Oliveira may not be ready for rematch against Islam Makhachev

Thomson felt ‘Do Bronx’ may have been rushed into the fight by the UFC as the Dagestani had started calling out other fighters like welterweight champion Leon Edwards on Twitter.

“I don’t know how to say this without being disrespectful, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Charles got forced into this fight by the UFC because Islam started calling out Leon, started calling out other fighters, and they’re like, hey, you’re making us look bad,” he said.

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He predicted that this was not fair to the BJJ black belt, who may pull out of the bout if he doesn’t feel ready. “They said, hey, Charles, take this fight, and I think if Charles is not ready mentally I could see Charles pulling out of the fight maybe two weeks before. I could see the UFC putting the pressure on Charles and making him fight, and him being like, look I’m not quite ready and having to pull out, okay. It’s not fair to him,” he told ‘Big’ John.

The fight business is nasty: John McCarthy

McCarthy agreed and speculated that the UFC had essentially given Oliveira a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum, forcing Oliveira’s hand. “When you say that it’s not fair to him, I understand what you’re saying and do I think that they have forced his hand here? I do because you know what they went and said was, hey, we’re going to give you the shot here take it or leave it but you’re not getting another one if you don’t take it,” he said.

‘Big’ John thought Dana White and the UFC wanted Makhachev to fight in Abu Dhabi because he is a big draw by himself. And a match with Oliveira would only compound fan interest in watching Makhachev fight.

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“Islam is sitting there as the champ. They know that they want to put him in that card in Abu Dhabi because they know he is going to put butts in the seats. Everyone comes to see him; they all love him, so this is a perfect card for him to be on, and they’ve gotta have a good opponent,” said McCarthy. “I’m not saying it’s nice, but this is the fight business, and the fight business is nasty,” he added.

McCarthy and Thomson have pointed out something that many UFC fans feel: that Oliveira might have been rushed into taking the rematch against Makhachev by Dana White and the UFC. Do you agree with McCarthy and Thomson that the UFC has compelled Oliveira to take the rematch? Tell us in the comments section below.

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