Charles Oliveira is currently prioritizing fights against the highest-profile opponents and does not consider Ilia Topuria to be in that category.
In a recent interview, Oliveira discussed his next steps as he waits for his next fight booking. Coming off a thrilling victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 309, which earned him the Fight of the Night award, Oliveira remains a top contender in the lightweight division, where Islam Makhachev holds the championship.
Oliveira previously faced Makhachev at UFC 280, losing by submission in the second round. He is eager for a rematch to reclaim the title. Topuria, the current featherweight champion who is expected to move up to lightweight, has expressed interest in fighting Oliveira as a stepping stone to a title shot against Makhachev. However, Oliveira is not enthusiastic about this matchup.
Oliveira stated, “There are many discussions happening. Many people are talking about different possibilities. But my focus is on the title, and the current champion is Islam Makhachev. Topuria is undoubtedly a very tough competitor and deserves respect.”
He added, “However, at this moment, I don`t view a fight with Topuria as a significant step towards my title aspirations. My goal is to fight Makhachev and regain the championship.”
Oliveira has also recently mentioned his belief that he could defeat the undefeated Topuria by knockout.
It`s unclear exactly which of Oliveira`s comments provoked Topuria, but “El Matador” responded on social media with a strong message, telling Oliveira to “stay quiet.”
Topuria`s message to Oliveira was: “Charles, you should be quiet. You have a record of 10 losses: 5 knockouts, 4 submissions, and 1 decision. You are a contender, while I am the champion, and I lead this division. I am not asking for anything; I am in charge here.”
Topuria aims to become a champion in two weight classes, building on his undefeated 8-0 UFC record, which includes recent knockout victories over featherweight legends Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski.
