Charles Oliveira Still Interested in Potentially Lucrative Fight vs. Conor McGregor

Charles Oliveira is still interested in a fight against Conor McGregor should the Irishman emerge victorious in his return fight against Michael Chandler.

McGregor will return after a nearly three-year hiatus in a welterweight matchup against Chandler in the main event at UFC 303on June 29. Given that McGregor is 1-3 in his last four and “Iron” is 2-3 in the Ultimate Fighting Championship — and both have been relatively inactive - Oliveira doesn’t think the matchup has much title relevance. However, the former champion does acknowledge that “Notorious” could be inching close to a gold bid with a victory given the Irishman’s star power. And “do Bronx” believes the former two-division champ will get the job done.

“I think that, in reality, it's a fight that will make money for both. That's the reality," Oliveira recently told Full Violence. “It's a fight that's going to make more money. Of course, if Conor wins, he could take a step towards the belt. He's a guy who's a huge star, but I think it's a fight for money... I think Conor [wins].”

Oliveira had previously called out McGregor after defeating Justin Gaethje via first-round submission at UFC 274 in May 2022. While the Brazilian is still open to a clash against McGregor, he believes the Dublin native won’t accept the bout if offered.

“Man, everyone knows. In fact, I've asked for this fight against Conor a thousand times, but it's a fight that I don't think he wants and everyone knows it," Oliveira said. “I've said it a thousand times. It's a fight that will bring me a lot of money, so I'd like it.”

McGregor is known as one of the best trash talkers in the history of the sport, sometimes even successfully using it to get inside his opponents’ minds. Oliveira believes he would laugh it off and be unbothered by McGregor’s trash talk if the occasion does arise.

“Man, in reality everyone sells the fight in a different way,” Oliveira said. “This is the way he sells it, cursing, talking. Of course, I’d laugh a lot. But I’d carry on the same way, head on straight, feet on straight, sitting on the ground, that’s for sure. I’d stretch out my hand to see if he would. Just don’t touch me, I wouldn’t touch you.”