Charles Oliveira is gearing up for a highly anticipated rematch with reigning champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 on October 21 in Abu Dhabi.
Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira is gearing up for a highly anticipated rematch with reigning champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 on October 21 in Abu Dhabi. While the announcement of the fight surprised many, Oliveira recently revealed that his ruling out of an October return was actually a tactical move to try and secure a November fight in his home country of Brazil.
During an appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Oliveira disclosed that he had learned to play the game of negotiations. He was aware that the UFC had plans for a potential event in Brazil in November and wanted to push his title fight to that month. He cleverly manipulated the situation in an attempt to get the promotion to reschedule the bout for a more opportune time.
Oliveira explained, “What changed is that I just learned how to play. What I knew is that the UFC was planning to maybe have a fight in Brazil in November. So I was trying to push it to November. I was playing with them. Obviously, it didn’t work, so now I’m fighting in October, but that’s what I was doing.“
While Oliveira’s strategic maneuver ultimately didn’t achieve its desired outcome. It did give him an opportunity to secure some extra compensation for his October showdown with Makhachev. This insight into Oliveira’s tactical thinking sheds light on the negotiation process and the behind-the-scenes efforts fighters often make to influence their fight scheduling.
The rematch between Oliveira and Makhachev is scheduled almost exactly one year after their initial meeting at UFC 280. In that encounter, Makhachev secured a second-round submission victory to capture the vacant lightweight title. Since then, Makhachev has successfully defended the belt in a thrilling Fight of the Year contender against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284.
Charles Oliveira made a triumphant return to action in June showcasing his skills by earning a first-round TKO against Beneil Dariush. The victory reaffirmed Oliveira’s position as a top contender in the lightweight division and set the stage for his highly anticipated rematch with Makhachev.
The matchup between Oliveira and Makhachev carries significant intrigue as it represents a chance for Oliveira to reclaim the title and avenge his previous loss. The Brazilian fighter’s ability to bounce back from setbacks and adapt his strategy both inside and outside the Octagon demonstrates his evolution as a well-rounded athlete and savvy negotiator.
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