Charles Oliveira firmly believes the champion will once again have a name after he dispatches Ilia Topuria at UFC 317.
Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) has the chance to become the first two-time titleholder in lightweight history when he takes on former featherweight champ Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in the International Fight Week headliner on June 28 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (ESPN+ pay-per-view).
Many were hopeful that Topuria’s move up would come against Islam Makhachev, who instead vacated to move up to welterweight and face Jack Della Maddalena. That left the need for someone to fight for the vacant strap, and Oliveira finds himself back in a familiar spot.
It will be a record third time Oliveira has fought for vacant gold in his UFC tenure, with previous bouts coming against Makhachev and Michael Chandler. Even if he’s not fighting to take the belt off someone, it’s special nevertheless.
“It’s a title fight in the end – it doesn’t matter if there’s a champion or there isn’t one,” Oliveira told MMA Junkie through an interpreter on Wednesday. “It’s a title fight, and you’ve got to go in there and win. It’s for sure (exciting), especially the hype that he’s coming with. He’s undefeated. It’s something that makes it even more exciting.”
Since Topuria first broached the topic of giving up his 145-pound belt and moving up to 155 pounds in February, Oliveira has only shown respect toward “El Matador.”
That hasn’t been reciprocated in the lead up to UFC 317, however, with Topuria taking shots at Oliveira’s fighting skills and intelligence. The Brazilian feels the disrespect, and he plans some redemption of his own on fight night.
“He has definitely not treated me with the same respect,” Oliveira said. “I don’t know (why). He’s been saying a lot, but the fact of the matter is we’re going to find out on June 28. Everyone knows who the real the champion is.”
Oliveira said his one interaction with Topuria at UFC 312 in Sydney was pleasant and uneventful, with the pair even posing for a photo together. But now, when they finally get face-to-face for a staredown at Thursday’s pre-event press conference, they will find out “who the real one is.”
Oliveira, 35, is arguably the most decorated fighter in UFC history. He holds a plethora of all-time records including most stoppage wins, most submission wins and most fight-night bonuses, and now he’s on the doorstep of entrenching himself further in the record books against who many see as the UFC’s next rising star in Topuria.
“I just want to win,” Oliveira said. “It’s meant to be. It’s already written.”
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