Ali Abdelaziz, manager of Islam Makhachev, believes that Charles Oliveira missed his shot at a rematch with Makhachev and does not deserve another opportunity at UFC gold, especially considering other contenders like Justin Gaethje who demolished Dustin Poirier at UFC 291.
When Charles Oliveira initially declined the offer to fight Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 in October, he cited the need for more preparation time and suggested November as a more suitable date for the rematch. However, despite his reservations, UFC 294 was eventually scheduled with Oliveira as the headliner against Makhachev. Unfortunately, disaster struck when Oliveira sustained a severe cut during training just two weeks before the event, forcing him to withdraw from the card. UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski stepped in to take his place, raising questions about Oliveira’s future opportunities for a title shot.
Ali Abdelaziz, a longtime manager for Makhachev, expressed his opinion on the matter, suggesting that Oliveira may have missed his chance. Abdelaziz doubted Oliveira’s genuine desire for the fight in October and questioned whether he deserved the rematch in the first place. Despite his reservations, Abdelaziz acknowledged that the UFC had made the decision to grant Oliveira the opportunity. However, with Oliveira dropping out of the rematch, it remains to be seen if this setback will cost him another shot at UFC gold.
Abdelaziz also represented Justin Gaethje, who had a strong case for being the next contender after his knockout victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 291 in July. Abdelaziz believed that if there had been more time between July and October, the UFC might have chosen a different opponent for Makhachev. Nevertheless, Oliveira was given the chance, but Abdelaziz was never fully convinced that the former champion would go to Abu Dhabi for the rematch. He suggested that Oliveira’s reluctance to fight might have been a tactical move to avoid experiencing another defeat. Abdelaziz now expects the UFC to prioritize Gaethje as the next contender if Makhachev successfully defends his title.
Makhachev himself agreed with his manager’s sentiments regarding Oliveira but hinted that both potential contenders might need to face other opponents before facing him. He expressed confidence in defeating both Gaethje and Oliveira, suggesting that they should fight each other to determine the true challenger for his title. While Abdelaziz may have his personal preference, he acknowledged that Makhachev would never back down from any opponent thrown his way, a principle instilled in him by his mentor, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.
Abdelaziz drew parallels between Makhachev’s acceptance of the new fight and a similar situation with Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 223. When Tony Ferguson pulled out due to injury and Max Holloway couldn’t be medically cleared, Khabib simply accepted anyone as his opponent without hesitation. Likewise, Makhachev did not question the replacement fight and embraced the new challenge.