Imago
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 07: Charles Oliveira of Brazil prepares to fight Justin Gaethje in the UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC 274 event at Footprint Center on May 07, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Imago
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 07: Charles Oliveira of Brazil prepares to fight Justin Gaethje in the UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC 274 event at Footprint Center on May 07, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Islam Makhachev dominated the main event of UFC 280. Undeniably, ‘Do Bronx’ had an impeccable defense, but the outcome wasn’t in his favor. Ultimately, the belt went to Makhachev, leaving Oliveira in a sad state. The Brazilian’s coach claimed that he deserved a break and hence, won’t be fighting a rematch with Makhachev in UFC 283. UFC proposed Do Bronx for a rematch with Makhachev. However, the final decision was theirs to make.
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Oliveira’s coach, Diego Lima, was recently interviewed by Super Lutas. However, it won’t be happening anytime soon.
Fans react to Charles Oliveira evading the rematch
Recently, Charles Oliveira got a chance to fight Islam Makhachev once again, in Rio. However, Oliveira’s coach, declared that ‘Do Bronx’ would not be taking the fight. In an interview with Super Lutas, it was revealed that the fighter was in stress after his loss against Makhachev, and therefore was in dire need of a vacation.
Lima revealed that UFC got in touch with them with a proposal to fight Makhachev again in Rio. However, the team decided to give Oliveira a break.
He said, “I talked a lot with Charles. He’s not injured, it’s just that there’s emotional stress. He is far beyond the physical. Charles was the only fighter who faced top 5 opponents in the span of a year. The champions hide, they want to have one fight a year. Not Charles. (…) It was very close to Rio de Janeiro, but it is a very short time. We prefer to give Charles a vacation, more than deserved.” [Translated via Google Translate]
Charles Oliveira was offered to have a rematch with Islam for January, but he turned it down due to "emotional stress."
I understand the need for vacation but man that's a huge opportunity missed #ufc
— Weasle (@ThaWeasle) November 30, 2022
The news was tweeted ‘Tha Weasle’. The user wrote that the Brazilian missed a huge opportunity. However, fans took to the comments section and showered support for the former champion. Fans believed that Oliveira indeed requires a vacation before entering the arena again.
Here’s what fans had to say:
I'd be pretty emotionally stressed too. It's a reasonably unrealistic expectation of Charles to jump right back into fight camp as soon as he's cleared. Like what? He has time. Better to not jump the gun and squander it
— August Ulrich (@aulrich0420) November 30, 2022
Oliveira deserves time off. Man put his body through WARS. Giving fans an all-time great reign. He should come back when he’s ready.
— JCee💜🕊 (@JCee_1213) November 30, 2022
Why would he do that? He’s better to sit it out anyway. If Volk beats Islam, his road back to the title is quicker. If not, he’ll need the time to prepare anyway
— MMA² (@mma_squared) November 30, 2022
I don’t blame him. Dude been through the ringer with getting the belt, defending it, “missing weight”, then agreeing to fight where Islam will have a huge crowd advantage when he didn’t have to do it there. Gotta be a toll
— July Souter (@JulySouter) November 30, 2022
Charles needs time off, took a lot of damage in his last few fights. Last thing we need is another Tony situation.
— CharlesAlexanderov (@nextlwchamp) November 30, 2022
Although many fans were sympathetic, some were in complete denial.
Source? He wouldn’t do that IMO
— GucciSerg (@sergiodaGOAT) November 30, 2022
lol how is that possible? Islam has a math in early feb. Makes no sense he was offered a rematch when islam and volk had the whole in-cage call out segment.
Is the coach on something?— Hamzee (@Hamza_Ali100) November 30, 2022
One of the fans listed the top 5 opponents ‘Do Bronx’ fought within 2 years. The fan truly believed that Oliveira deserved a break.
Guy fought chandler, gaethje, poirier, islam in a year and a half. Guy deserves a break.
— Kyle (@KyleAvez) November 30, 2022
Thus, there were several reactions to the news.
Islam Makhachev’s victory in UFC 280
The UFC 280 lightweight main event had Oliveira pitted against Khabib Nurmagomedov’s protégé. ‘Do Bronx’ stood his ground and defended himself well. However, in the third round, he had to tap out. Makhachev proved his superior grappling skills when he put the 33-year-old fighter in an arm triangle.
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BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 20: Islam Makhachev of Russia celebrates after his knockout victory over Gleison Tibau of Brazil in their lightweight bout during the UFC 220 event at TD Garden on January 20, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Although many cheered from Oliveira’s corner, the way he stood strong against his opponent had everyone mesmerized. Emotional stress is, in fact, natural in such cases. All the fans can do is wait for the former champion to come back.
Watch This Story: UFC 280 – Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev: Date, Time, Venue, Tickets, and Live Stream
What are your thoughts on Oliveira taking a vacation instead of fighting? Let us know in the comments down below.
Written by
Edited by
Rohini Kottu