Google News Charles Oliveira: “No one is ever going to hit me as hard as life has hit me,”
by FARUK IMAMOVIC | VIEW 1356
The spectacular UFC 280 culminated in a lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev, with Islam showing his quality and taking the long-coveted belt. He won by "submission" in the second round of the fight to the delight of the audience in Abu Dhabi, and it is almost official that Alexander Volkanovski is now waiting for him.
However, former champion Oliveira does not intend to give up either. Although the reality is that he had a rather weak performance this weekend in Abu Dhabi, he said that he still hopes that the lightweight gold will come back to him someday: “No one is ever going to hit me as hard as life has hit me,” Oliveira told reporters at the UFC 280 post-fight press conference.
“I fell down, and I’m going to get up and I’m going to get this belt back”. Oliveira said at the press conference after the fight. “We’re fighters. That’s bound to happen,” Oliveira said.
“Today, Islam Makhachev was better than I was. There’s days that you’re going to be better than other people. There’s days that they’re going to be better than you. There’s not much to do. We’re going to meet again”.
While it's unknown what's next for Charles Oliveira, Dana White said Charles is still the top contender in the division. Islam Makhachev is likely to fight lightweight belt challenger Alexander Volaknovski in Australia, so Charles will certainly need to get some wins before another push.
The plan for brazilian is to regroup with his team.
“You never know what exactly the promotion is going to choose,” Oliveira said. “They change minds all the time, so who am I to say something? “The truth is that Charles Oliveira is still the No.
1 contender in the division. So what we’re going to do is go back home, see my family, talk to my managers, assess the matters, butt heads a little bit with the UFC. I’ve always done everything the UFC has asked of me.
I’ve always fought in other people’s homes. So we’re just going to wait a little bit. (There’s) not much for me to choose. We’re going to be home and negotiate it from there”. A great option after Saturday would be the fight between Oliveira and Dariush, if the UFC does not give Dariush a direct title shot again.