The world of MMA was left in suspense with the sudden announcement of Charles Oliveira’s withdrawal from the much-anticipated title fight at UFC 294. Fans across the globe had been eagerly looking forward to the bout. He was expected to be face off with lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev.
Oliveira had already clashed with Makhachev once before for the prestigious lightweight belt at UFC 280. Unfortunately for Oliveira, he faced defeat in that fight by succumbing to a second-round arm triangle submission. The bout at UFC 294 was billed as the Brazilian’s redemption story.
Charles Oliviera pulls out of UFC 294
Even the most seasoned fighters are vulnerable to injuries. During an intense sparring session in his homeland of Brazil, Oliveira suffered a serious injury to his right eyebrow. The severity of the injury meant he had no choice but to withdraw from the upcoming fight against the lightweight champion from Dagestan.
The official confirmation of Oliveira’s exit from the title fight came from none other than the UFC CEO, Dana White. White broke the news during the post-fight press conference of the Contender Series. The news was already leaked by Charles Oliveira’s camp beforehand and the immediate aftermath was a wave of shock and disappointment.
Fans worldwide took to social media, expressing their dismay at the missed opportunity and conveying their heartfelt wishes for Oliveira’s speedy recovery. Moreover, some were very happy to see the Volkanovski matchup as their first outing was way more competitive than Oliveira’s first outing against the Russian.
The bout between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 had culminated in a dominant performance by the Russian fighter. Makhachev managed to secure a victory via an arm triangle submission in the second round, winning the lightweight title vacated by Oliveira after he missed weight at UFC 274 against Justin Gaethje.
The Rise of a New Challenge: Islam vs. Volk II
With Oliveira’s unexpected departure, there was a void to fill, and the UFC was up to the task. Alexander Volkanovski was roped in as the replacement to face off against Islam Makhachev. This decision has reignited the excitement for UFC 294. Volkanovski is no stranger to Makhachev.
The two had previously battled it out at UFC 284 where Volkanovski faced a unanimous decision loss. This rematch, therefore, is not only about the title but also Volkanovski’s pursuit of retribution for his close loss to Makhachev at Perth. While Charles Oliveira’s absence has certainly cast a shadow, the promise of a thrilling rematch between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski ensures that the excitement levels remain sky-high.
Dana White gave fans further insights into the decision-making process. While Alexander Volkanovski was the chosen one for the rematch, other fighters like Mateusz Gamrot were in contention. The whirl of speculations didnāt end there. Dana White tantalizingly hinted at discussions of another intriguing matchup.
Fans might witness a face-off between Ilia Topuria and Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 297 in Canada. However, with the inclusion of the Australian at UFC 294, it remains to be seen whether the “Great” will take a tough outing against Topuria, three months after a tough matchup against Makhachev in October.
Who do you think will win at UFC 294 main event? Comment below!
