ABU DHABI – Charles Oliveira doesn’t believe Islam Makhachev when he says he was willing to fight him in Brazil.
Oliveira (33-8 MMA, 21-8 UFC) will face Makhachev (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 280 main event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi – Makhachev’s adopted home. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.
Oliveira is coming off a first-round submission of Justin Gaethje at UFC 274, which took place in Gaethje’s hometown of Phoenix. The Brazilian said he is starting to relish upsetting the masses in enemy territory.
“I’m home. I like being in places like this,” Oliveira said through an interpreter during the UFC 280 press conference on Thursday. “I always invite them to come to my house. They never come to my house, so I knock on people’s doors and go to theirs.”
But Makhachev disagreed. According to the top contender, he asked the UFC to fight Oliveira in his home country where the promotion will return Jan. 21 for UFC 283 in Rio.
“When they announce the fight in Brazil, I ask Dana, ‘Please, my team is ready,'” Makhachev said. “‘Let’s go. I want to make this in Brazil.’ We ask about Brazil many times. If you don’t know this, ask Dana.”
Makhachev’s response sparked a back-and-forth in which Oliveira accused him of lying.
“This fight was not meant to happen in Brazil. You guys are just bullsh*tting all the time,” Oliveira said.
He continued, “In no moment, you never wanted this fight to be in Brazil. You never mentioned Brazil. Don’t worry, daddy’s here.”
Makhachev fired back, accusing Oliveira of ducking him.
“You tried to avoid this fight how many months? You don’t say my name,” Makhachev said. “I never heard you say my name. Conor, Nate Diaz, someone, but you never say Islam. Never.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 280.
