'I really want a fight with McGregor in Brazil, in January'
Conor McGregor has been 'offered' a UFC title shot against Charles Oliveira for his first fight back since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier last year.
The 33-year-old suffered defeat to Poirier in July 2021 and hasn't fought since. However, the Irishman has a number of potential opponents for his next bout.
Tony Ferguson and Michael Chandler have both called for a showdown fight against McGregor, and Oliveira is also keen to face off against the former double champion.
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Oliveira, who was stripped of the UFC lightweight title before his victory over Justin Gaethje, is eyeing a fight against McGregor in Brazil in January.
Speaking to
Combate, he said: "I really want a fight with McGregor in Brazil, in January.
"That would be really nice. Everyone knows I’m interested in that fight because of the money."
He added: "But if the UFC wants me to fight Islam Makhachev next, they better put a lot of money in my bank account.
"The place doesn’t matter. I’m a professional, I’m the champ. Make it happen."
Although Oliveira is on an 11-fight winning streak - and has triumphed over the likes of Chandler, Dustin Poirier and Gaethje - former UFC middleweight title challenger Chael Sonnen believes McGregor has what it takes to defeat him.
"If there’s anybody that Conor is likely to beat to become the world champion, it is the sitting champion, right now," he explained.
"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 continued: "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."
McGregor has come under criticism in recent years and hasn't won a UFC fight since January 2020 when he stopped Donald Cerrone.
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