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'Conor McGregor Is Very Problematic For Charles Oliveira, It's A Fascinating Match Up'

'Conor McGregor Is Very Problematic For Charles Oliveira, It's A Fascinating Match Up'

Chael Sonnen has backed Conor McGregor to give UFC champion Charles Oliveira a good fight.

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar

Conor McGregor has been told he'd be 'very problematic' for UFC lightweight king Charles Oliveira​ ahead of a potential championship clash.

​A blockbuster showdown between Oliveira and McGregor has been mooted, with the Brazilian eager to face the former UFC lightweight title holder next. 

Oliveira, 32, has enjoyed his most prolific run of his MMA career, rattling off 10 straight wins inside the Octagon - beating the likes of Tony Ferguson, Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier. 

He survived a scare to stop Chandler to claim the vacant 155lbs strap, then submitted Poirier in the first defence of his crown.  

Image: PA
Image: PA

​Oliveira's taken out a couple of the division's biggest names, but UFC legend Chael Sonnen has backed McGregor to beat the defending UFC champion.

​Sonnen reckons it's a 'fascinating match up' and talked up the Irishman's striking, saying it's one of the best the sport has ever seen. 

Speaking on his YouTube channel via MMA Fighting, the former UFC middleweight and UFC light-heavyweight title challenger explained: "If there’s anybody that Conor is likely to beat to become the world champion, it is the sitting champion, right now.

"Charles Oliveira-Conor McGregor is a fascinating matchup. It is very problematic for Oliveira.

"Conor McGregor is as good of a striker as this sport has ever seen.

"Oliveira is a very dynamic striker who showed some real wrestling prowess in a couple of contests but in other contests didn’t."

Sonnen added: "Conor can handle himself on the ground. Conor can take care of himself on the feet. The in-between has been a problem with very high-level guys.

"So now you start to have a question of, is Oliveira a really high level guy? Is he that high enough of a level guy?

"I don’t have the answers to these questions. I’m just sharing for you, however this goes, the fans are going to get something very special."

Justin Gaethje appeared to have booked his shot at Oliveira ​when he beat Chandler in an epic war at UFC 268 last year. 

However, there have been rumblings about the 'Notorious' leapfrogging 'The Highlight' upon his Octagon comeback. 

Who do you want to see Oliveira ​fight next? Let us know. 

Featured Image Credit: Conor McGregor/PA

Topics: Conor McGregor, Charles Oliveira, UFC

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Darren Till. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

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@NasJabbar