Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira told why he agreed to fight against Arman Tsarukyan.
The meeting between the Brazilian and the Armenian will be part of the UFC 300 anniversary tournament, which will take place on the night of April 13 in Las Vegas, USA.
"I'm going to fight for the championship belt again. And the UFC believes in Tsarukyan. So I need this fight. I have to show these guys the level, stop their way to the top," Oliveira said in an interview with Daniel Cormier.
Recall that Oliveira has not appeared in the octagon since last May, when he knocked out Beneil Dariush in the first round. In October, the Brazilian was supposed to have a rematch against Islam Makhachev, but withdrew at the last moment due to injury.
UFC lightweight Bobby Green was happy for Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway, who will be fighting soon.
"I'm excited for both Gaethje and Holloway. These two of my favorite fighters are true warriors. They're guys that go into the cage and put on great fights and I'm excited for both of them. We're going to fight as long as we can. We're trying to fight all the time and stay at our best until our time is up, so you have to respect that in them. Other guys like Islam Makhachev are taking their time and stuff like that. If you want to be that star, you have to take risks," MMA Fighting quoted Green as saying.
The Gaethje vs. Holloway fight will take place as part of the UFC 300 anniversary event
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker gave a prediction for the upcoming fight between the titleholder in the promotion's welterweight division Alex Pereira and Jamal Hill.
The showdown between the Brazilian and the American will be the main event of UFC 300, which takes place April 13 in Las Vegas.
"I would say Alex Pereira is the more technical puncher, but he gets beaten by unorthodox punchers and we saw that in the fight with Prochazka and he missed punches, but he still won because he's very experienced in striking. He knows how to fight, he knows how to do it, he's done it hundreds of times. He's very experienced.
But Jamal Hill, I think, is going to bring the X-factor to this fight. He's got some serious power, he's finished a lot of guys, and he's going to bring unorthodox striking to the fight. I can see how Pereira will beat his legs back. He's such a technical puncher and understands that fights are won with leg and body kicks. I'm leaning towards Alex winning," Whittaker stated on the MMArcade Podcast.
Arman Tsarukyan, number four in the UFC's top lightweight rankings, has answered whether he plans to surpass the achievements of former division champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The Armenian will cross gloves with Charles Oliveira on April 13 at UFC 300 in Las Vegas, USA.
"You can outpoint anyone in this life. To do that, you need to make as many defenses, or better still more, six or seven times, and be a decent person like him, and then everything will come out. But I don't aspire to be media savvy like him. I just want to be a champion, defend the belt a couple times and just prove to myself that I can be a champion. I don't want to be a superstar like Khabib," Tsarukyan said at the press conference.
Renowned British MMA veteran, commentator and analyst Michael Bisping shared his expectations for the upcoming fight between former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan.
"I think Arman Tsarukyan is capable of doing what Islam Makhachev did in the Oliveira fight. Charles comes forward, he has power in his hands and he is not afraid of anyone, but sometimes he makes mistakes. Islam beat him at his own game. I think Tsarukyan is capable of doing the same.
Will Arman be able to give him a knockdown? Yes. Will he give him a stand-up fight? Yes. Is he a better wrestler? Yes. Can he offset the jiu-jitsu threat of Charles? Yes. Remember Charles' fight with Paul Felder, who was just alert and was smashing Charles with elbows," Bisping said in a fresh edition of the author's YouTube channel.
Recall, Oliveira and Tsarukyan will fight on April 13 as part of the UFC 300 event in Las Vegas.
Former UFC lightweight champion Brazilian Charles Oliveira shared his memories of sparring together with current flyweight division titleholder compatriot Alex Pereira.
"It was a long time ago when he visited our Chute Boxe gym. We had a good sparring session, then we went to lunch together. I joked that I hoped one day to get hands as powerful and strong as his. He replied that one day he hoped to master my Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills. It's amazing to now fight alongside him in the main card of such a great and significant UFC tournament," - quotes Oliveira Sherdog.
Recall that Pereira and Oliveira will appear on April 13 at the UFC 300 show in Las Vegas. Alex in the main event will defend his title against the claims of Jamal Hill, and Charles will share the octagon with Arman Tsarukyan.
WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury shared his opinion about his next opponent, WBA, WBO and IBF belt holder Oleksandr Usyk.
"This fight is not something personal. It's purely business. A lot is at stake, but I have no hatred for him. I respect him as a man and a fighter. It's anyone's responsibility to respect this man's accomplishments. He is the unified heavyweight champion and the absolute champion in the first heavyweight division," - quotes Fury Boxing Social.
Recall that the fight between Usik and Fury was to be held on February 17 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but was postponed due to the British received a dissection during training. Now boxers should meet on May 18 there.
Former UFC two weight class champion George St-Pierre answered the question of whether he would be a top fighter these days.
UFC welterweightAleksandar Rakic turned to his next opponent Jiri Prohazka to see who is the king of Europe.
"He's from Europe, I'm from Europe. He lives near me, so let's find out who is the king of Europe and later the king of the world. I expect an aggressive Jiri, unorthodox as he used to be. It's going to be a tough fight for both me and him. He's very good at chaos and I'm the guy who can handle him. It's going to be an awesome fight," MMAJunkie quoted Rakic as saying.
Recall that the confrontation between Rakic and Prochazka will take place in the framework of the 300th anniversary UFC tournament.
Israel Adesanya, former UFC middleweight champion, gave his prediction for the upcoming fight between Justin Gaethje, BMF belt holder, and Max Holloway, former UFC featherweight champion. According to Izzy, Max will win this fight by judges' decision.
"I think Max has a better defense than Gaethje. If he implements that from the beginning, moves around, moves his head, controls the distance, I think Max will be able to flop him and counterattack. I bet Max will win by decision," Adesanya said on his YouTube channel.
Recall that the fight between Gaethje and Holloway will take place on the night from April 13 to 14 in Las Vegas as part of the 300th anniversary of the UFC tournament.
