UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira has no qualms about facing either Conor McGregor or Dustin Poirier as he remains confident about knocking out either of his rivals
Charles Oliveira is confident he would knock out both Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier.
The two stars will square off for a third time at UFC 264 on July 10 after Poirier levelled the scores with a win against the Irishman earlier this year.
Lightweight champion Oliveira will be waiting in the wings having after a record-breaking 17th finish in the division in which he knocked out Michael Chandler to win the belt.
But the 31-year-old insists he has the skills to see off either McGregor or Poirier who clash for a third time next weekend.
He told AgFight : “I never pick opponents. I’ve always been ready to fight. They are two huge names in the sport. Everyone knows a fight with McGregor involves a lot of money.
“Poirier, not so much, but they’re both great opponents. I’ll be ready. I believe in my jiu-jitsu against any of them.
“But something tells me that if I were to fight them, I would knock them both out. I feel good.”
The Brazilian believes his skill set has come on which now allows him to go toe-to-toe with the likes of McGregor and Poirier.
Once renowned as a jiu-jitsu specialist, Oliviera now sees himself as a well rounded fighter.
“A few years ago, Charlie was a jiu-jitsu guy.” he added.
“He would walk forward, eat shots and was a bit wary. Nowadays, I’m not afraid of trading shots with those guys. What’s funny is that once I start to trade shots, they’re the ones who want to take me down, to do what I can do better.
“This shows how much I’m evolving on the feet. It’s going to be a great fight, for sure. Charles is not just a jiu-jitsu fighter. He’s a well-rounded fighter, on the mat and on the feet. I do think they’ll all get knocked out, though.”
He then made his professional boxing debut against ring legend Floyd Mayweather but was stopped in the 10th round.
And McGregor was then choked out by bitter rival Khabib Nurmagomedov in their grudge match in 2018.
The Dubliner returned in 2019 to stop Donald Cerrone inside 40 seconds but was then stopped himself by Poirier in their rematch five months ago.