“Oh man, I’m tired of giving chances to small guys,” said reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev earlier this year, voicing his frustration after being repeatedly called out by former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. Citing ‘El Matador’s 5’7″ height, Makhachev flatly dismissed any possibility of fighting him at 155 lbs. Instead, Makhachev pointed to his two consecutive victories over the 145 lbs GOAT Alexander Volkanovski, declaring he would no longer take on featherweights or any “smaller” opponents.

So, as Ilia Topuria made his long-anticipated move up to lightweight, Makhachev went in the same direction—vacating his belt and moving up to the welterweight division. The timing aligned perfectly. Last week, Islam Makhachev’s close friend Belal Muhammad was no longer the welterweight titleholder, having lost the belt in a short reign that ended at the hands of rising Australian star Jack Della Maddalena. With the welterweight path now open, Makhachev made his move to 170 lbs—setting off a domino effect in the UFC’s matchmaking.

As a result, Dana White and the UFC brass set the vacant lightweight title up for grabs at UFC 317 in a high-stakes clash between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira. Now, with fight night just weeks away, the debate around  the Georgian native’s size has once again become a talking point—reignited by none other than his longtime rival Paddy Pimblett.

Never one to miss a jab at ‘El Matador’s stature, ‘The Baddy’ brought up his height once again during an interview with TNT Sports’ Adam Catterall. When asked, “Do you think Ilia beats Charles then?” the Brit voiced doubt and pointed to ‘Do Bronxs’s tendency to get “cracked” during fights inside the cage. “Charles is a bit chinny, isn’t he? He’s had about 40 fights or something. He always gets punched, he always gets cracked.” said Paddy Pimblett. He continued to break down the matchup and gave his prediction on how things might play out: “If Ilia gets him down, I can see him winning, ’cause that 10-pound difference is a big difference. Yeah, 145 to 155—it’s a big difference…. But that 10 pounds makes a big difference.”

Highlighting Charles Oliveira’s size advantage, Paddy made it clear he doesn’t think Ilia Topuria can win if the fight stays standing: “Charles is like my height. Ilia’s like down here when I stand up, you know what I mean? So it kind of makes a big difference. Like, he might get a bit of a fright at how big Charles is when he stands opposite.”

That said, this doesn’t mean Ilia Topuria hasn’t faced bigger opponents despite competing in the featherweight division. For instance, at UFC 307 in Abu Dhabi last year, Charles Oliveira delivered a devastating knockout to 5’10 Max Holloway. It’s also worth noting that the Spanish has fought at 155 pounds before. In 2022, he knocked out the 6’1″ Jai Herbert in the second round, proving his potential in the lightweight division.

Still, Charles the Brazilian isn’t one to back down easily; he’s made his intentions clear. Let’s see what unfolds next.

Charles Oliveira speaks out on his chances against Ilia Topuria

Former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira’s reign at 155 lbs may be nearing its end. Yet, at 35 years old, his drive to become a two-time champion still burns fiercely. ‘Do Bronx’ understands how critical the next few years are—he could be nearing the final chapter of his fighting career, a harsh reality that age inevitably brings.

Now, with an opportunity granted by Dana White & Co., the Brazilian is determined not to let it slip away. For him, it’s about more than just winning—it’s about his family. When Dana White announced the his title fight live on Instagram, Charles Oliveira shared his family’s reaction. Speaking with MMAHoje, he said:

“Kids screaming, all of that….I went straight to (my manager) right away, and that’s that.” Despite facing a younger, hungrier Ilia Topuria, Charles Oliveira remains unconcerned with his opponent. He explained his mindset, “Honestly, I’m not really focused on what the guys themselves are doing. My last fights have all been with this team, obviously I have a wonderful team that are going to analyze Topuria in every way so we can see (how we can beat him).”

With just 43 days left until Charles Oliveira faces Ilia Topuria, who do you think will emerge as the new lightweight champion? Will it be ‘El Matador’ or ‘Do Bronx’? Share your thoughts below!