Charles Oliveira uninterested in Paddy Pimblett right now, cites condition for ‘great fight’ with Ilia Topuria

Paddy Pimblett mentioned former UFC champion Charles Oliveira as one of the potential names next for him after he dismantled Michael Chandler at UFC 314 on April 12, but the Brazilian isn’t interested in facing Pimblett right now.

Speaking with Portal do Vale Tudo in Brazil, “Do Bronx” explained why “I don’t even think about” booking a fight with Pimblett next. The Chute Boxe Diego Lima lightweight said Pimblett had the “perfect” strategy for Chandler at UFC 314, but thinks Chandler came back too early after suffering leg damage in their fight this past November.

“I’m thinking about fighting for a belt, so there’s no reason to think about guys that are [ranked] below me, only those ahead of me,” Oliveira said. “He’s a tough kid, he’s on a good rise, fighting really well, but I don’t even think about it. All these guys [ranked below] come saying talking [crap] trying to get a fight and get to the top. They’re not wrong, each one sells a fight their way. There was a time I poked at others to get a fight with top 5 guys. It’s part [of the game]. It would be a great fight, but not for the moment I’m in right now.”

The lightweight title picture is looking a bit confusing at the moment with 155-pound king Islam Makhachev apparently waiting to see who emerges with the welterweight strap between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 on May 10 (Makhachev is friends and training partners with Muhammad, so he’s likely only to chase a second title if Della Maddalena wins). Ilia Topuria has also inserted his name in the conversation after vacating the featherweight belt to move up to lightweight.

Oliveira originally had only two potential opponents in mind: Makhachev for UFC gold or “BMF” titleholder Max Holloway, but now cites a new condition to face a different man.

“I’m going for the belt. That’s what I want,” Oliveira said. “I’ve mentioned the BMF because I thought Islam would only come back in October and I wanted to fight at International Fight Week [on June 28], but then Islam said he wants to fight on Fight Week and I stopped looking at Max Holloway for the BMF belt. He’s aiming for the date I want, but now there’s this confusion.

“I want the belt, but I don’t run from anyone. I never ran, and won’t start running now. I’m ready to fight any of those guys. I respect them, but I’ll impose my rhythm and my game. Why not [Topuria]? If it’s for the belt, why not fight Topuria? I’m going for the title. I don’t want to fight another fight and then wait for the title. That doesn’t interest me.”

Oliveira suggested an interim title bout with Topuria if Makhachev indeed jumps up to 170 pounds to pursue a second belt if Della Maddalena is victorious. And Oliveira won’t overlook the man who has knocked out the likes of Alexander Volkanovski and Holloway at featherweight.

“Regardless of what [Topuria] says or doesn’t say, he’s super tough and deserves all the respect in the world,” Oliveira said. “He was doing well in his weight class, move up because he believes he can make things happen in this weight class, so it would definitely be a great fight.”