A UFC 300 star’s coach has revealed they’re targeting a shock showdown with Conor McGregor – just a week before the iconic card.
Mixed martial arts’ top promotion hosts its historic 300th pay-per-view event in Las Vegas a week on Sunday morning.
UFCUFC 300 takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this weekend[/caption]
Conor McGregor isn’t on the card but his shadow looms largeGETTY
Ex-155lbs champ Charles Oliveira wants to throw down with The Notorious after his bout on the historic cardGETTY
A whopping ten former or current undisputed champions feature on the card, which is set to be one of the biggest in the UFC history.
Charles Oliveira is one of the former champs who will look to make a statement in the Sin City extravaganza, although he’s hoping to make a bigger one against McGregor later this year.
His head coach Diego Lima told MMAFighting: “It would be great to fight McGregor. McGregor has made history.
“Professionally speaking, [fighting him] would be incredible.
“If we had the opportunity to fight McGregor at welterweight after this fight, we would fight McGregor.”
Before Oliveira can think about fighting McGregor, he must first get through surging lightweight contender Arman Tsarukya – who is flying high on an impressive three-fight win streak.
A win over the Russian could see ‘Do Bronx’ earn a rematch with current 155lbs champ Islam Makhachev, although Lima reckons a fight with McGregor trumps the title.
He continued: “But how about the belt? OK, we’ll fight the belt after that, God willing.
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“But we know that with McGregor, the creature has become bigger than the creator.
“We know that if the opportunity came, McGregor already considered this fight. If we really had this opportunity, that’s the one we want.”
He continued: “The belt is a certainty after beating McGregor. No way we beat McGregor and don’t fight for the belt next. It’s one after the other.
“McGregor really wants to fight at [International] Fight Week. Who knows? Of course, one fight at a time.
“Arman is super tough, really good. Charles is 100 per cent focused on Arman and doesn’t think about Makhachev or McGregor.
“Me too. I’m only watching Arman’s fights, working on a strategy for Arman.
“I wouldn’t start watching McGregor’s or Makhachev’s fights today. I’m not doing that. But we think about it.”
McGregor, 35, hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since breaking his left leg in his trilogy match with Dustin Poirier nearly three years ago.
But the Irishman is on course to return to the cage this summer for a long-overdue showdown with Michael Chandler.
Charles Oliveira has the small matter of getting past Arman Tsarukyan next weekendGETTY”}]]