Oliveira makes case for title shot, wants McGregor-Poirier winner
Charles Oliveira wants a shot at the UFC lightweight title after his dominant win over Tony Ferguson.
Oliveira, who beat the former interim champion via unanimous decision in Saturday's UFC 256 co-main event, hopes the title opportunity comes against the winner of Conor McGregor versus Dustin Poirier.
"Khabib (Nurmagomedov) swore on his father's grave that he wasn’t going to come back, so when a man does that, I don't think he's going to come back," Oliveira said through an interpreter at the postfight press conference, according to MMA Junkie's Dave Doyle and Ken Hathaway.
"(Justin) Gaethje can fight whoever, but I want the winner of Conor and Poirier. I have eight wins in a row, seven of those I finish the fights, and I don't let it go to the judges hands, I finish fights. I deserve (it), I'm in the position to be fighting for the belt."
The top of the lightweight division is muddled, as Nurmagomedov retired in October but still holds the belt. UFC president Dana White has said multiple times he believes Nurmagomedov will fight again, but the champion continues to double down on his decision.
Assuming there will be a vacant title fight in 2021, Oliveira appears to think it would make sense for the McGregor-Poirier winner to be involved.
Oliveira entered his fight against No. 3 Ferguson as the seventh-ranked contender. He'll likely be inside the top five when the rankings are updated.
"Do Bronx" is 9-1 since returning to the 155-pound division in 2017.