Charles Oliveira has cemented his legacy as one of the top fighters of the UFC over the last decade and a half. From securing a 41-second win against Darren Elkins in his very first UFC battle to forging an 11-win streak, Oliveira has shown the world that he is one of the top contenders in the octagon.
At UFC 317, Oliveira will fight Ilia Topuria for the vacant UFC lightweight belt. Fellow 155-pound contender Renato Moicano recently opened up on why someone else deserved the title shot over “do Bronx.”
Renato Moicano Picks Arman Tsarukyan Over Charles Oliveira as No. 1 Lightweight Contender
Speaking on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Moicano praised Oliveira’s charm and charisma, which make the Brazilian a fan favorite. However, “Money” believes Arman Tsarukyan was a more deserving candidate to challenge Topuria for the vacant lightweight strap.
“I don’t agree with the way they’re treating [Tsarukyan],” Moicano said. “I think he should be fighting for [the belt] with Topuria.”
"I think [Arman Tsarukyan] should be fighting Topuria because he should be the No.1 contender.
But I think Charles Oliveira has a lot more charisma. I think people like Charles a lot better, so that's why Charles is fighting for the belt."@moicanoufc on what's going on with… pic.twitter.com/DK9J1NNMcS
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani)
However, he stated he understood why the UFC would go for Oliveira instead.
“I think Charles Oliveira has got a lot more charisma. Charles has got a lot more followers. I think people like Charles a lot better, so that’s why Charles is fighting for the belt.”
At this point, Ariel Helwani pointed out that Oliveira and Tsarukyan faced each other at UFC 300, where the latter emerged victorious via unanimous decision. Based on this contest, Tsarukyan’s contendership should hold more value.
Tsarukyan was set to challenge Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 for the lightweight belt but had to pull out due to a back injury. Moicano stepped up on short notice but lost the fight via submission in the first round.
Moicano’s claim that Tsarukyan is a more deserving challenger for the lightweight belt is not unfounded.
A Look at Charles Oliveira and Ilia Topuria’s UFC Records
Oliveira boasts an impressive record of 35-10-0 in MMA. The jiu-jitsu savant holds the highest number of wins via submissions with 16 victories while forging a feat of 20 finishes in the UFC.
He has also racked up 20 post-fight bonuses in the promotion, the most in the UFC. His wins against Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler, Tony Ferguson, and Justin Gaethje, were a burning testament to his exceptional fighting flair.
Meanwhile, the undefeated Topuria has racked up 16 wins in his MMA career, eight of them in the UFC. The man’s hunt for blood is relentless. After becoming the first person to knock out Max Holloway and only the second to KO Alexander Volkanovski, he relinquished his featherweight title to pad up his legacy with a second UFC belt.
Utterly confident in his abilities, Topuria has already apologized to Oliveira for supposedly beating him in their upcoming UFC 317 contest.