Pulling out from UFC 294 seems to have set Charles Oliveira back. The former lightweight champion was forced to pull out of his rematch against champion Islam Makahachev owing to an injury barely two weeks out from the Abu Dhabi card last October.

And now he will have to face #4 ranked Arman Tsarukyan in UFC 300, who made a statement by razing out Beneil Dariush in the first round last month, at UFC Fight Night: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan, in an official no. 1 contender bout. Verbose UFC commentator and analyst Chael Sonnen, however, thinks, there is a chance the bout falls through despite the conditions being favorable for ‘Do Bronx’.

Sonnen thinks Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan is in jeopardy

Chael Sonnen discussed the UFC 300 fixture recently announced by Dana White between Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan. The former title contender told the audience that he shared their skepticism that the bout would materialize. Although he did not say so explicitly in the video, he implied that the reason behind this would be Oliveira being hesitant to face the up-and-coming star.

“Arman versus Oliveira, there’s a lot on that announcement guys. And I will admit that I am with the majority of you that think that fight is never going to happen. I will admit that that is the I strongly lean towards that,” he said.

‘Uncle Chael’ however, did point out that there were certain advantages that the Brazilian would have on the anniversary card that may lead to him going through with the contest. He felt that the pressure would be much less on ‘Do Bronx’ if the fight was a three-round affair and was not on the main card for the anniversary card.

“But there are a few things that are a perk. By example, it’s UFC 300 that isn’t guaranteed to be on main card, so the pressure could be much less… It’d be three rounds which is a very different environment… The stakes appear to be tests that Charles has been given before and he’s passed,” he added.

Sonnen concluded that while he leaned towards the bout falling through, he felt there was a good chance it might actually go ahead. “So I do admit… the likelihood of that match happening is not great, but it’s not as low as you might think,” he said. And in further bad news for ‘Do Bronx’, Islam Makhachev has already expressed his hesitation at having to face him again.

Makhachev is not interested in a rematch with Charles Oliveira

Islam Makhachev was asked who he thinks should be his next opponent by reporters at an event last month. The lightweight champion stated that he would prefer to face BMF title holder Justin Gaethje as he had not fought him yet.

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The Dagestani revealed that he was not in favor of a rematch against previous opponents (read Charles Oliveira) and wanted to take on newer challengers. Regardless, it seems almost certain that he would indeed have to rematch one of his previous opponents for his next title defense. Tsarukyan has also already fought (and lost to) Makhachev back in 2019 and would rematch the champion if he were to defeat ‘Do Bronx’ at UFC 300 in April.

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