Oliveira demands lightweight unification with Gaethje, offers BMF belt as stake
In an exclusive interview with CBS Sports at UFC 329, Charles Oliveira outlined his demand for a unification bout against Justin Gaethje, while also backing training partner Ian Machado Garry ahead of his welterweight title challenge.
Charles Oliveira has issued a direct challenge to reigning UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, proposing a unification bout in which he will offer his BMF (Baddest Motherf***er) title as a stake. Speaking to CBS Sports at UFC 329, Oliveira dismissed the notion of participating in a title eliminator or defending his BMF belt against other contenders, asserting that his sole objective is to reclaim the UFC lightweight championship.
Oliveira, known as "Do Bronx," stated he is the next in line for the title shot, arguing that the version of himself defeated by Islam Makhachev at UFC 280 four years ago was not the "real" Oliveira. "The next one in line to face Justin Gaethje for the title is Charles Oliveira," he said through a Portuguese interpreter. "Everyone knows that's the fight to make. I want that belt. I need it. Let's unify the belts. The champion takes everything."
While Arman Tsarukyan holds a recent victory over Oliveira by split decision, giving him a marginally stronger case for a title shot, Oliveira remains focused on Gaethje. The UFC lightweight champion has not been challenged directly by Oliveira in this manner before, and it remains unclear whether the promotion will approve the proposed unification bout.
The call for unification comes ahead of UFC 330 in Philadelphia on 15 August, where Oliveira’s training partner, Ian Machado Garry, will challenge Islam Makhachev for the welterweight title. Makhachev previously defeated Oliveira to win the lightweight belt before moving up in weight to the welterweight division. Analysts suggest Garry’s defensive soundness and fight IQ could lead to an upset against the current champion.
Despite his support for Garry, Oliveira explicitly rejected the idea that a victory by his training partner would serve as redemption for his own loss to Makhachev. "That's not an issue. That doesn't exist," Oliveira explained. "I think he has all the merit in the world for beating me when he did. I will be happy for Ian when he goes out there, gets the win, and gets the belt. It's his story."
