Charles Oliveira has just put himself forward as a backup for the lightweight title-fight between his two former rivals that will take place at UFC 311 on January 18th, 2025. Its going to be the promotion’s first major event of the year and the card is stacked from top to bottom with great fights, including a pair of title-fights. The co-main event features Merab Dvalishvili putting his bantamweight title on the line against Umar Nurmagomedov but the fight that’s of most importance to Oliveira is the main event. That’s where his old title will be up for grabs, as reigning champion Islam Makhachev faces Arman Tsarukyan.
Oliveira has history with both of these men, as they have both beaten him in the last two years and he’s eager for revenge against either of them. His first run-in with one of them was back at UFC 280, when Makhachev submitted him to win the lightweight title. Oliveira rebounded with a win in his very next fight and started his journey back to the top of the division, but it was stopped short when Tsarukyan won a split decision over him at UFC 300. Oliveira has since managed to get back in the win column again and he’s in a good position to campaign for a title-shot.
He isn’t content to wait for the UFC to give it to him with plenty of notice though, and Charles Oliveira will be making the trip to watch UFC 311 in the hopes of getting a short-notice call-up:
“I’ll be there even if I have to sit close to the cage. If the UFC wants (me as backup), why not? They have similar styles, I think Islam (Makhachev) is a little bit ahead. I also think it’s going to be a very good fight but for me, it doesn’t matter who wins. I’m next.”
It’s not uncommon for this scenario to materialise either, as plenty of title-fights have been scuppered due to injuries or failed weight-cuts over the last few years. It’s happened so often in fact that it’s become common practice for the UFC to secure the services of backup fighters. They get paid to prepare for a fight with either of the two men in the actual title-fight and they even weigh in as if they were involved. Until the cage door closes on that particular fight, they’re always ready to step in if needed and take advantage of the opportunity. That’s the exact position that Oliveira is angling for now.
The full interview with Charles Oliveira where he expresses his desire to be the backup fighter for the UFC 311 title-fight was uploaded to the official YouTube channel of TNT Sports:
