There is no doubt that Charles Oliveira is one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC. Leading the UFC record for most career finishes with 20, the Brazilian fighter makes history in almost every fight he is part of.

Among the fan favorites, the former lightweight champion is coming off a win against Beneil Dariush at UFC 289. Brimming with confidence, Oliveira is all set to take revenge against the fighter to whom he lost his title: the lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev. But there is more to the story.

Ariel Helwani discusses Oliveira’s upcoming match

Do Bronx’ recently made an appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, where he discussed the UFC’s decision not to let him fight in Brazil. Instead, they placed him on the Abu Dhabi card, ultimately leading to a matchup against Islam Makhachev at UFC 294.

In this candid conversation with Ariel Helwani, Charles Oliveira shed light on his strategic maneuvering within the negotiation process and highlighted the delicate balance of fighter interaction with UFC planning.

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Oliveira said, “I just learned how to play, you know. Now, I’m playing. I knew, you know, that the UFC was planning to maybe have a fight in Brazil in November…So I was trying to push it to November, you know. So I was just playing with them.”

Setting the Stage for Abu Dhabi Showdown in October

Evidently, Oliveira’s strategic move didn’t yield the desired outcome, leading to a shift in plans. As a result, the fighter is now set to compete in Abu Dhabi in October. Ariel followed up with several relevant questions, one being whether the fighter expected a title shot so rapidly after last year’s loss.

Oliveira confidently expressed that he had consistently believed he was next in line for the opportunity. He affirmed his readiness and unwavering conviction that destiny would favor him.

Read More: “All He Needs to Do Is Tell Me the Place…”: Days After Their Online To and Fro, Charles Oliveira Calls Out Conor McGregor for a Fight at Middleweight Division

In response to the question about lessons from his prior fight and things that couldn’t be replicated in the upcoming match, Oliveira shared several insights. The fighter acknowledged that the first fight had provided valuable lessons, contributing to his refined fighting approach this time.

Despite a scheduled title fight ahead, Oliveira maintains a hopeful perspective on the potential showdown against Conor McGregor. The fighter envisions the possibility of the fight materializing in the future.

In the matchup between Conor McGregor and Charles Oliveira, who do you believe will emerge victorious and secure the win in the octagon? Do you think Oliveira is a good match for Conor in his return to the octagon?

Watch this story: Conor McGregor Responds to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s GOAT List