Charles Oliveira: ‘There’s no way’ I’m not the No. 1 contender with Tony Ferguson acquire

Charles Oliveira is at last getting his shot at the elite of the UFC lightweight division, and he’s self-assured that he will grow to be the up coming in line for the belt with a get more than Tony Ferguson on Dec. 12.

“Do Bronx” and Ferguson have had small time to put together for their co-most important event clash at UFC 256 in Las Vegas. But Oliveira, who has completed 7 opponents in a row in the 155-pound excess weight course given that June 2018, ensures he’s be prepared to declare what he believes is his.

“It’s pretty crystal clear: Whoever wins this combat is the next title contender,” Oliveira claimed in an job interview with MMA Fighting. “I have to continue to be focused and concentrated. He was coming off 12 wins in a row and I consider he made a slip-up towards Justin Gaethje, so we cannot make errors in there.”

The lightweight title image is a bit puzzling at the instant, but Olivera, who stopped Kevin Lee previously this calendar year in Brazil, has no doubt that a earn at the UFC APEX should be adequate to cement his place in the division.

“Winning this combat I’ll be the up coming challenger, no doubt,” he mentioned. “Seven wins in a row at the instant. It will be eight following this, and I really do not prepare on leaving it in the judges’ fingers. It will be 8 finishes in a row. There is no way I have to wait. I’m the upcoming challenger.”

With Khabib Nurmagomedov retired — but his supervisor and the UFC teasing a probable comeback — and the UFC scheduling a rematch among Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier for January, “do Bronx” envisions a clash with the winner of “The Notorious” vs. “The Diamond” for a vacant title in 2021. He picks the Irishman for the earn at UFC 257

“Conor McGregor retired a lot of moments, Paul Felder retired numerous times they all retire and arrive back,” Oliveira stated. “But we’re talking about Khabib. His loved ones, his religion, the gentleman says he’s retired. A person instructed me that he sworn on his father’s grave that he wouldn’t combat any longer. If that is real, there’s no way he arrives back again. If he arrives again, he would be heading more than his own phrase and his have father. If that’s true, the person will not come back. It’s over.”

Oliveira has to get earlier Ferguson initial, nevertheless, and he’s informed of the challenge that will be standing in entrance of him on Dec. 12.

“He’s tremendous tricky,” Oliveira reported. “He has his possess combating model, he spins with the elbow, the arm, the leg. He shoots for takedowns in a completely diverse way. We know the problems that this struggle delivers, the trouble coming my way, but this is my instant. My time has come. There’s not significantly to do, just coach and dedicate.

“I’ll have the ideal method for this struggle and I’ll make it take place. He’s tricky and has an amazing cardio, so let us go.”

Keeping the report for most submission victories in UFC record, the Chute Boxe fighter respects Ferguson’s ending techniques on the mat.

“Good jiu-jitsu, if you give him an opening he goes there and faucets you,” Oliveira claimed. “You have to respect that. We can’t fool about for the reason that I can make a slip-up and he submits me too. Fights are unpredictable, brother, anything at all can materialize. But, like I reported, this is my second, this is my time. I’ll be 100 % targeted for this fight. I will not make issues up there.

“His jiu-jitsu, his wrestling, his muay Thai, the nuts spinning points he does out of nowhere — I’ll be ready for all that.”