Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliviera are all set to share the octagon once again at UFC 294. The event will take place on October 21 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi – the very same venue as their first fight in October 2022.
Although Islam Makhachev is not from Abu Dhabi, he enjoys a massive fan following there and is treated by the fans as one of their own.
In a recent interview with James Lynch, Oliveira was asked for his thoughts on fighting Islam a year later in the same venue, where the majority of the crowd might possibly be rooting against him.
‘Do Bronx’ responded by saying:
“[I] don’t necessarily think it’s fair, but it’s the game. You know, that’s where the champion is. He calls the shots, but I’m coming back for my belt.”
Charles Oliviera’s comments did not set well with the Dagestani who took to social media to issue a response. The lightweight champion revealed that he wanted to compete in the United States in the summer of this year but the UFC wanted to go a different route.
The Dagestani then stated that he had no problem competing in enemy territory as he fought Alexander Volkanovski in Australia at UFC 284.
“Charles, I asked to fight in US in the summer, but UFC has other plans, I am a UFC fighter like you, never set the conditions for the UFC and fought where they offered, my last fight took place in Australia at the challenger’s backyard, simple, everything you say makes no sense,” wrote Islam Makhachev.
