Reigning UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira says he would be a “fool” not to take a money fight with Conor McGregor next.
Oliveira (32-8) is in the midst of a career-high. He’s the champion in one of the best divisions in all of MMA and currently owns a 10-fight win streak. He holds the UFC records for most submissions, finishes, and performance bonuses. However, that doesn’t mean he is banking the most coin in the company.
Being a champion in the UFC doesn’t mean you’re one of the richest fighters in the organization. That’s why the idea of a matchup with former two-division champion McGregor (22-6) is intriguing to the Brazilian. The Irishman is the sports resident superstar and every time he fights those events are the biggest money-making cards of the year. Meaning his opponents cash in big time.
Charles Oliveira would ‘definitely’ fight Conor McGregor next if given the chance
However, there is a major problem with that matchup, on a competitive level. “Notorious” is in the middle of a two-fight losing streak, has lost three of his last four, and hasn’t won consecutive bouts since 2016. Suffice to say, he is completely undeserving of a championship opportunity. Especially with former interim champion Justin Gaethje officially announced as the next man in like by UFC boss Dana White.
Yet that didn’t stop McGregor from suggesting the fight on Sunday morning after “Do Bronx’s” successful title defense at UFC 269.
“So what date am I fighting Oliveira?” he wrote in a post on his Twitter account.
As ludicrous as the idea is for a champion to fight a competitor on a two-fight losing streak, the McGregor effect on an athlete’s bank account is a real thing. Oliveira also understands that with his goal of being champion achieved, now is the time to stack up greenbacks as fast and as soon as possible.
“If I had the chance [in the past] to fight for the belt or fight Conor, everybody knows I’d fight for the belt. That already happened, I’m the champion now. The champion has a name and his name is Charles Oliveira,” Oliveira said on Portuguese-language podcast Trocação Franca. “If I had the chance to fight Conor for money today, I would. The belt is mine and continues being mine. We’ll continue building our legacy and making history.”
‘Do Bronx’ is no fool when it comes to the opportunity of cashing in the McGregor lottery ticket
Although he has responsibilities to the division and its contenders as the champion, the 32-year-old said passing on the financial windfall that would come from facing McGregor would be foolish. And he is no fool.
“Of course [he would take that fight], no one’s a fool. ‘No, I’ll fight someone else because of the belt, leave Conor alone.’ Who’s going to do that? Only a fool,” said Oliveira.
“If I had the opportunity to fight Conor, I would definitely fight Conor. The belt is mine regardless. The division has to get by and wait a little bit. There’s nothing else to do. We have to think about our families, our children, think about what we can do down the line.”
Would you be open to a clash between Oliveira and McGregor, or is the idea an outrageous non-starter with all things considered?
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