Charles Oliveira Names 'Mistake' Against Islam Makhachev He Vows Not To Make In UFC 294 Rematch

Following a return to Sydney, Australia, next weekend, the mixed martial arts leader will return to Abu Dhabi for its October pay-per-view offering.

There, it’ll be a case of déjà vu for the Middle Eastern fans, with Islam Makhachev once again headlining alongside Charles Oliveira. The pair previously collided at the Etihad Arena last October, where the Dagestani emerged victorious via second-round submission.

With the result, Makhachev completed a long-predicted ascent to the 155-pound mountaintop, while “Do Bronx” fell short of a second reign having been unseated by a weight miss prior to his victory over Justin Gaethje.

Since the defeat, Oliveira has returned to winning ways in style, knocking the previously in-form Beneil Dariush out at UFC 289 in Canada this past June. Now, the Brazilian gets his chance for redemption in familiar surroundings.

And ahead of his return to UAE soil, Oliveira has assessed the changes he must make.

Oliveira: Makhachev Loss The ‘Only Fight I Talked Crap’

During an appearance on MMA Fighting’s Trocação Franca podcast, Oliveira reiterated that the man who took to the Octagon at UFC 280 was not his normal self.

In the past, the former champ has cited his performance to back up that claim. Now, he’s broadened that to include his pre-fight attitude, which saw him send an unusually high amount of trash talk the way of his opponent.

That, Oliveira says, is not a mistake he will repeat second time around.

“That’s the only fight I talked crap, the fight against Islam,” Oliveira said. “I made a mistake. I won’t make that mistake again. We can only make mistakes once in life. When you make a mistake once, you can’t do it a second time, otherwise you’ll go down nonstop. I won’t do it again.

“If you look at all of my fights, you’ll see that night I didn’t fight 10 percent of what I can do. Not a hater, not an analyst that is constantly saying crap, but people that understand fighting,” Oliveira continued. “If you watch everything I’ve said for all my fights, the only one where I’ve [gone outside my norm] a little bit and said some things, talked some crap, was the one against Islam, and I won’t make that mistake again.”

“Do Bronx” will look to prove that his championship defeat last year was nothing but a bad night at the office by upsetting the odds and bringing Makhachev’s reign to an end.

Should he accomplish that feat, Oliveira will further enhance a lightweight legacy that already has some even placing him alongside the great Khabib Nurmagomedov. 

First fights official for #UFC294 and they are HUGE!🎟️ Tickets on sale this week![ @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/6w3HaO4ojN

— UFC (@ufc) July 20, 2023

• Read Also: Charles Oliveira Explains U-Turn On Making The Turnaround To Face Islam Makhachev In Abu Dhabi

Quotes h/t MMA Fighting