Charles Oliveira refused to rule out attempting to lure Khabib Nurmagomedov out of retirement should he regain his lightweight title later this year.
The Brazilian was stripped of his belt in May when he failed to make weight for his title defence against Justin Gaethje. But he will have the change to reclaim it when he takes on Islam Makhachev at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi on October 22.
Makhachev is widely regarded as the heir to Nurmagomedov who retired in 2020 with an unblemished record and who is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time. And the Russian has been linked with a return to the cage - should his protege be beaten.
And while not confirming he would call out Nurmagomedov should his hand be raised, Oliveira said: "This is a question that you need to address to him [Khabib]. He has retired, deservedly, and my focus is on fighting in October, back to Brazil, fight again in January."
Nurmagomedov retired following his own win over Gaethje, citing his mother's desire for him to hang up his gloves following the death of his father. UFC president Dana White attempted to convince his former champion to reconsider but Nurmagomedov stood firm and has since set up his promotional outfit.
But one of his former coaches believes the Dagestan native could be tempted to return if Oliveira beats Makhachev. " Definitely. If Charles beats Makhachev, I truly believe that Khabib would return to avenge him," Leandro Viera told Sherdog.
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Meanwhile, former light-heavyweight contender Chael Sonnen believes Oliveira should have made a fight with Nurmagomedov part of his contract. "Charles and his team didn't ask for it, did they (a fight with Nurmagomedov)?," Sonnen said on his YouTube channel.
"It was offered to Conor McGregor, it was straight up publicly by Khabib offered to McGregor. Hey Conor, come fight Islam. If you win, I'll come back and fight you. Ok great, it was good enough for McGregor. Charles Oliveira the largest pay-per-view draw of 2022 could not negotiate that deal and couldn't get the same deal.
"I would then have to wonder why? Charles and his team didn't ask for it, did they? If Khabib says it is done it is done but he has never said it for Charles. He didn't say it for Charles because he wasn't asked to say it. Charles didn't force him to say it, he wasn't going to go to Abu Dhabi and then all of a sudden he grabbed the paper and signed for it."
