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Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter Charles Oliveira shared his expectations for the upcoming fight with American Michael Chandler. Oliveira warns his future opponent that it will not be as easy for him as in the last fight against New Zealander Dan Hooker, whom he knocked out in the first round.
Charles Oliveira is confident he will become the new lightweight champion at UFC 262.
After Dana White confirmed that Khabib Nurmagomedov had resigned, the promotion quickly nominated Oliveira against Chandler for the lightweight title. In the Octagon meeting, ‘Do Bronx’ does not expect Chandler to beat him, nor does he plan to back down like Dan Hooker did in Chandler’s debut.
“If he takes me down, he will do me a favor. I believe he will pretty much try to keep the fight standing and repeat what he did with Dan Hooker, but if he has one good punch, I have many more combinations,” Charles Oliveira said to Sherdog. “Furthermore, I’ll not run from him like Hooker did. On the contrary, for each of his attempts, I will have a stronger answer. Of course, Chandler deserves credit for that debut win. But, if Hooker were not so concerned to talk bulls—t about me in the week of the fight, I’m sure that he could have done better.”
Although Charles Oliveira doesn’t expect Chandler to try to beat him, the Brazilian plans to use his wrestling. He knows that his grappling will be the deciding factor in this fight.
“He improved my wrestling a lot,” Oliveira said. “If you see my last fights, I took down all my opponents and of course will focus on that discipline against Chandler.”
However, despite being known as a grappler, Charles Oliveira believes he will beat Chandler by knockout when he strikes back when the former Bellator champion comes forward.
“He always comes very strong, and I’ll catch him with a counter hit,” Charles Oliveira said.
Charles Oliveira start his title shot by winning an eight-fight streak and dominating Tony Ferguson at UFC 256. Recall that Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler will fight on May 15 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, USA in the main event of UFC 262. At stake will be the vacant UFC lightweight title.