Former light-weight champion Charles Oliveira was compelled out of his UFC 294 title combat with champion Islam Makhachev after receiving a ‘large and deep cut’ throughout a morning coaching session whereas getting ready for the combat.
“It occurred within the morning of the day. Foolish transfer. Principally a takedown protection. I used to be coaching and ended up having head butting there,” Oliveira defined to The MMA Hour.
When the reduce first occurred, Oliveira thought that it could be okay and that he’d have the ability to combat Makhachev. He discovered that it was rather more severe than he first thought after speaking with the physician who evaluated the laceration.
“We’re fighters. We’re form of jaded. We at all times assume, when it occurs, it isn’t that severe, we’ll bounce again, that is nothing, all the pieces goes to be okay,” stated Oliveira. “It actually dawned on me and that coin hit after I heard the physician say, ‘this isn’t solely a big reduce however can be a deep reduce. We’re not going to have sufficient time’ and it dawned on me when he stated, ‘any hit there would principally break up that factor open. That is after I discovered it was severe,”
Makhachev as an alternative fought featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and knocked “The Great” out within the first spherical of the rematch. Oliveira nonetheless needs a rematch of his personal with Makhachev and believes he is subsequent in line.
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“They (the UFC) know who I’m. They know what I am all about. They know that I’ll practice to turn into a champion,” Oliveira stated. “I am coaching and I am preparing for it. They know what I am all about. I do not combat for cash. I combat to make historical past and I combat for my legacy. I’ll proceed to coach, proceed to get ready. Attempt to rise up to 100% similar to I used to be proper earlier than the combat. After I’m 100% I will be able to combat.”
“I need the belt. Whoever’s bought that belt, it does not matter who has it, I need that belt,” Olivera continued.
“Whoever the UFC says goes to combat, goes to combat. Everyone is aware of I am subsequent. I am first within the rankings, coming off a fantastic win, and able to combat like I used to be earlier than. I used to be prepared for that combat till it (the reduce) occurred, and I am subsequent in line.”
