UFC lightweight contender and current BMF champion Charles Oliveira shared his ideal timeline for his return to the Octagon.
Oliveira was supposed to fight Arman Tsarukyan in the co-main event of UFC 331 on September 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
However, following the tragic passing of his teammate Allan Nascimento at Chute Boxe Diego Lima, Oliveira understandably pulled out of the Tsarukyan fight and was replaced by Mauricio Ruffy.
But while Oliveira was not ready to fight in September, he is hoping to return before 2026 is over.
Charles Oliveira Shares Ideal Return Timeline
Speaking to Brazilian MMA reporter Olhar da Luta, Oliveira was asked when he would like to return to the cage.
The MMA legend said he hopes that he can come back before the year is over, but he denied having anything booked at the moment, despite rumors circulating on social media that he could be fighting Diego Lopes in a BMF title defense.
“I don’t have any fight booked. No opponent has been offered to me. People keep throwing names out there but I don’t have anything. The reality is that I want to fight again before the end of the year. I want to have one more fight,” Oliveira said.
“I don’t have any fight booked. No opponent has been offered to me. People keep throwing names out there but I don’t have anything.
The reality is that I want to
Charles Oliveira vs. Diego Lopes Makes Sense
Although Oliveira does not have his next fight booked at the moment, there is no doubt that a matchup against Lopes is the one that makes the most sense for both men right now.
Both Oliveira and Lopes are two of the most exciting fighters in the UFC right now, and stylistically, it’s a fight that can be very fun because Lopes is one of the few fighters in the UFC right now who can hang with Oliveira on the ground.
Lopes has spent most of his UFC career fighting in the featherweight division, but with two losses to current champ Alexander Volkanovski, he is moving up to lightweight for his next bout.
When that happens, a matchup against Oliveira with the BMF title on the line seems like the perfect matchup for the two Brazilian MMA veterans.
Charles Oliveira Shares Timeline for UFC Return Fight