Charles Oliveira is familiar with both UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and interim champ Justin Gaethje.
Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) is expected to unify the title against Gaethje (27-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC), who captured the interim belt by defeating Paddy Pimblett last month at UFC 324.
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Oliveira (36-11 MMA, 24-11 UFC) was knocked out by Topuria in their vacant lightweight title fight at UFC 317 last June. During his title reign, Oliveira choked out Gaethje at UFC 274 but was stripped of his belt prior after missing weight.
“A fight’s a fight, but my money will be on Topuria to win,” Oliveira told MMA Junkie through an interpreter.
Oliveira will challenge Max Holloway (27-8 MMA, 23-8 UFC) for the BMF title when they rematch in the UFC 326 headliner March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Paramount+). A win could set him up for another shot at Topuria, but Oliveira is more concerned with re-gaining the belt.
“The reality is I’m not looking for rematches, I’m not looking for revenge on the guys who have fought me,” Oliveira said. “I’m just looking to fight, and I want to win, and I want to be the champion. So, whoever has the belt, that’s who I’m fighting. It’s not specifically looking for that rematch with him.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Charles Oliveira makes Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje prediction
