Alex Oliveira: Khamzat Chimaev ‘knows I can kick his ass’

Alex Oliveira would love to get his palms on growing feeling Khamzat Chimaev right after he’s performed with fellow undefeated expertise Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 254, which takes location Saturday in Abu Dhabi, but will not insist on the callout.

The Brazilian welterweight spoke with MMA Battling in advance of the Fight Island display, exactly where below pursues his 3rd victory this 12 months, and points out why he has a challenge with Chimaev even though he wishes him luck in his MMA job.

“This person talked also significantly, asked for a bunch of names, this and that,” Oliveira stated, “But I requested for him and he explained ‘No,’ and now he wants men ranked at the leading? So let him get people guys. I hope he will get lucky since if he fights them and will get beat up, I won’t agree to fight him then. I’ll retain him waiting around.”

The UFC is nonetheless functioning on getting an opponent for Chimaev soon after he demolished John Phillips, Rhys McKee and Gerald Meerschaert between July and September. Oliveira promises that “Borz” turned him down, and has a principle as to why.

“I really don’t know, person, I guess I could be the underdog standing on his way,” Oliveira reported. “I’m not concerned of a fight, man. I’d make him do the job. … Previous time we were in this article (in Abu Dhabi), we ended up on the elevator heading to the weigh-ins and he gave me a glance that wasn’t pleasant. He’s by now also cocky — that is until eventually somebody kicks his ass and puts him back again in his area. He talks too much.

“I hope God assists him get where he wants, but he however has a good deal of work to do. He just cannot get to the quarry and go straight for the big rocks. He has to do the job his way up, split his rocks 1st. He would like to get in this article and discuss his way up but when I request for him he claims no. If he really wished to fight any individual he would have fought me, but he ran away? Let it be. He’ll get defeat up at the leading and will come again here wanting for a fight and I will not choose it.”

Chimaev is anticipated to headline an event in December, and former middleweight champion Chris Weidman volunteered to struggle him subsequent in January.

Oliveira agrees with Weidman — and hopes the undefeated Russian is well prepared for “his downfall.”

“The downfall is tough when a person is so whole of them selves, brother, and his downfall will be something,” Oliveira mentioned. “He doesn’t want his downfall to be against me. He knows I can kick his ass. I’m not a one particular-round fighter, I’m a a few-round fighter. Cardio, strikes. He would like none of it ideal now. Let him get hyped up by most people. I hope he’s mentally prepared when his downfall will come mainly because that messes with a fighter’s head.

“Not everybody is frightened and operates away from him. Perhaps men and women really don’t battle him since he just talks as well a lot. Which is it.”