Islam Makhachev has accused Charles Oliveira of being scared to lose whilst telling the former champion his submission skills "won't work" against him.
Oliveira was stripped of his lightweight belt after missing weight for his submission win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 274 last weekend. The division's title is now vacant and Makhachev wants to fight former titleholder Oliveira next to crown the next champion.
Makhachev was scheduled to fight fellow top contender Beneil Dariush in February, but the fight was cancelled - and Oliveira thinks that fight should be rescheduled to decide the challenger for the vacant title. “I think the reality is, Makhachev has to fight Dariush first,” Oliveira told Trocacao Franca.
