Charles Oliveira suggests drop to featherweight, challenge Alexander Volkanovski for his UFC title

ABU DHABI – To what may be a surprise to many, Charles Oliveira is not ruling out a return to the featherweight division.

The Brazilian expressed his interest in one day fighting at 145 once again on Wednesday, ahead of his lightweight championship bout against Islam Makhachev at Saturday’s UFC 280. When asked about a potential fight against UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, Oliveira (33-8 MMA, 21-8 UFC) suggested a two-fight series.

“First of all, we’re going to focus on what’s going to happen here on this fight in particular,” Oliveira told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at the UFC 280 media day on Wednesday. “My timing is that we fight in Brazil afterward, regardless.

“If we’re going to make this fight happen, Charles vs. Volkanovski, we can have it two ways – we’re going to fight at (155 pounds) and then we’re going to fight (145 pounds) at the end of the year. So we’re going to fight at two weight divisions.”

Volkanovski said he’s the official backup fighter for the UFC 280 lightweight title fight and is present in Abu Dhabi. UFC president Dana White said “it makes sense” that Volkanovski would next get his much-desired shot at the lightweight title and opportunity at becoming a two-division champion.

Oliveira would like the same opportunity of victorious at UFC 280. He’s competed at featherweight before, as he’s had a long history in the division.

However, despite his long tenure at 145 pounds, Oliveira also had a history of missing weight in the weight class. He missed weight four times in a 12-fight run at 145 pounds.

Oliveira, who hasn’t made a featherweight cut since 2016, says he can make the weight.

“Sure, I have a great team to get down to (145 pounds).”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 280.