Charles Oliveira Confident He’ll Receive Title Shot with Win Over Arman Tsarukyan

Charles Oliveira is certain that a win over Arman Tsarukyan should earn him the next lightweight title shot.

Oliveira is scheduled to take on surging Armenian-Russian contender Arman Tsarukyan (21-3) at UFC 300 on April 13. Meanwhile, the same card features Justin Gaethje’s BMF title defense against Max Holloway.

While some believe the BMF title fight winner might create a stalemate in the lightweight title picture, Oliveira is certain that a win over Tsarukyan earns him the next gold bid.

“Not at all, I don’t even think about that,” Oliveira said in an interview with MMA Mania. “Everyone knows that I’m the next one in the line so I’m gonna be the next one to get the title, and I’m ready for it.”

While Oliveira acknowledged the skillset of both fighters, “do Bronx” expects Gaethje to best Holloway.

“Man, Holloway is a really nice guy, and he moves a lot,” Oliveira said. “He has a type of game that he moves a lot, but Gaethje also has a strong hand. If Holloway gives the opportunity, Gaethje for sure will win this fight. But both are very good.”

As if the lightweight title picture wasn’t confusing enough, Dustin Poirier re-emerged with a brutal knockout win over up-and-coming Frenchman Benoit St. Denis at UFC 299 earlier this month. Makhachev has since expressed interest in defending his strap against “The Diamond” in June.

However, Oliveira remains confident of rematching Makhachev next if he can get his hand raised at UFC 300.

“I don’t even think about that, to be honest. This is information that comes from the internet, and people talks a lot on the internet," the 34-year-old said. "I’m not worried about that. I know that I’m the next in line. So, that's it.”