UFC star Charles Oliveira has thrown down the gauntlet to defend the lightweight title against Alexander Volkanovski in Brazil before challenging for the featherweight championship in Perth.
That's if he gets through Islam Makhachev first, of course.
The Brazilian clearly expects to push through his opponent at UFC 280 and recapture the lightweight championship – and it seems he’s already planning ahead.
Australian great Alexander Volkanovski is waiting in the wings should something go pear-shaped in the lead up to the lightweight championship bout.
But if anything is clear, the featherweight champion is next in line for the opportunity to make himself a double-champion.
However, according to UFC reporter Mike Bohn, Oliveira plans on also putting his name in the hat of double-champ status.
If the 33-year-old were successful at UFC 280 he plans on defending his lightweight championship against the Aussie in January in Brazil.
Charles Oliveira tells me at UFC 280 media day that he wants to defend the 155-pound title vs. Alexander Volkanovski in January in Brazil – the challenge Volkanovski for the 145-pound belt in February in Australia.
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) October 19, 2022
He also says he WILL get PPV points for Saturday's event.
He then plans on challenging ‘The Great’ for the 145-point belt in February in Australia.
It would be quite the tight turnaround to have two huge fights in the space of a few weeks, but if anyone can do it it's Volk and Oliveira.
And boy, would it go down in UFC folklore if it were to happen.
Two of the best fighters in the game duking it out for double-champion status in their respective home nations.
Not even a Hollywood script writer could plan anything better than that.
However, there is one issue (of probably many) with the proposal, that many UFC fans have pointed out.
Oliveira already struggles to make weight at 155lbs, so going down to 145lbs in the space of a few weeks would be close to impossible.
His nutritionist upon hearing that: pic.twitter.com/e6m4HwXbfn
— ᴛʜᴇᴀʀᴛᴏꜰᴡᴀʀ🗿🏝 (@TheArtOfWar6) October 19, 2022
The Brazilian was set to defend his UFC Lightweight Championship against Justin Gaethje at UFC 274, however, weight in at 155.5lbs, half a pound above weight.
As a result, he was forced to vacate the title - the first time a fighter was ever to be stripped of their championship due to a weight discrepancy.
But hey, if Oliveira thinks he can make it happen, UFC Perth would be in for one hell of a main-event fight.
But they better have a belter of a backup fighter on hand in case things go south.
Featured Image Credit: Px Images / Alamy. ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy.
Topics: UFC, MMA, Australia, Alexander Volkanoski, Charles Oliveira, Brazil
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