Oliveira: "Makhachev deserves respect, but I want to go down in history"

Former UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira spoke about the importance of a rematch with the current owner of the belt Islam Makhachev. 

“I want to make history. Makhachev does not stand still and deserves respect, but I want to return the belt. I want to show the kids in the favelas that they, too, can achieve something in life. Islam said he was ready to fight me in Brazil. I immediately said that this was nonsense. They didn’t want to hold our fight in Brazil, I was right again.

Some say that I am not psychologically ready to fight Makhachev in the UAE, but I just want to be myself on October 21st. I want to be close to my loved ones. And bring happiness to these people,” MMA Fighting quotes the Brazilian as saying.

Recall that the fight Makhachev - Oliveira 2 will head the UFC 294 tournament, which will be held on October 21 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.