Charles Oliveira är inte den som startar fejder inför MMA-matcher men han tänker inte sitta tyst heller.
Charles Oliveira anser sig vara nummer ett i lättvikt
Den tidigare UFC-mästaren i lättvikt Charles Oliveira kommer möta Arman Tsarukyan vid historiska UFC 300 den 13 april och har ett svar efter att denne kallat honom för en endimensionell fighter. Tsarukyan avfärdade då Oliveiras imponerande statistik när det kommer till avslut. Ryssen menade att Oliveira var begränsad till att ta sin motståndares rygg och submitta denne via rear-naked-chokes.
Oliveira sade följande i en intervju med MMA Fighting:
People say what they want, right? If I only have that, and I have 16 submissions on my [UFC] record, I guess they were all from the back, right?
And I guess the knockouts I have weren’t knockouts, they were submissions. It’s too much bulls*** they talk. It was said that I’m a quitter, but I was knocked down, walked forward and knocked them out. I also heard I’m not hungry, that I don’t want it anymore. He doesn’t know how bad I want to become champion again.
Oliveira sade att han bara skrattar åt skitsnacket riktat mot honom å det inte gör någon skillnad. Han har dock den största respekten för Tsarukyan som motståndare:
He’s super tough, is on a good run, etc. But we’re talking about guys at the top of the division. You have to chill before you say anything because you’re not talking about anyone, I’m the No. 1 in this division. I have the record for most submissions, most bonuses. If you look at my history, you’ll see you’re talking crap.
Oliveira studsade tillbaka från titelmatchförlusten mot Islam Makhachev genom att knocka Beneil Dariush vid UFC 289 och Tsarukyan kom i sin tur sedan att avsluta Dariush i december.
Oliveira har avslutat sina motståndare i 31 av sina 34 segrar och siktar på samma resultat när han möter Tsarukyan i T-Mobile Arena i Las Vegas, Nevada.
I’m an aggressive man and walk forward the entire time, so there’s no such thing as walking backwards. Arman knows that, he’s said that. He’s said a bunch of s***, but one thing he got right is that I go for the victory at all times, so that won’t change. But if you look at my last fight against Beneil Dariush, you’ll see how calm I was. I’m evolving, I’m growing inside the cage, and on the mat here, training and evolving.
Of course, I want to knock him out. I want to submit him. I want the win, and I don’t want to leave it to the judges. The worst thing that can happen is leave it to the judges, so I will go for it the entire time. Of course, very strategically, making things happen. He’s super tough, has good striking and good takedowns, but I’m 100 percent ready for this. I’m not worried about what Arman can bring, but with what I can do. It’s all about me being happy and bold, and having my hand raised.
Vill möta Conor McGregor
Brassen säger sig vara säker på att vinna och stå näst på tur för att möta Makhachev senare i år. Han är dock villig att tänka om en match mot Conor McGregor är möjlig:
I would absolutely go with Conor because of the money,” Oliveira said. “Everything has to be discussed. When you sit at the table and there’s a contract, you say, ‘OK, cool, I want this win. Am I next in line with a win?’ … You’re putting way too much money in your bank account to live a good life, and then you’re fighting for the title. It doesn’t make any difference.
Oliveira förväntar sig dock inte att McGregor någonsin kommer acceptera matchen:
Sometimes he posts something about me and then deletes it. So there’s a spark. But he’s no fool. He will never take this fight. I don’t think so, no. He thinks too much and has a good strategy. He only goes where he is very certain he can win.
Det återstår att se hut det går för Oliveira denna helg.
