There is currently no UFC lightweight champion after the retirement of Khabib Nurmagomedov, but Charles Oliveira believes he should be one of the two fighters who get a chance to claim the vacated strap.
Oliveira says his winning streak and ranking in the lightweight division should be enough to earn him a title shot.
?For everyone that loves fights or makes a living out of this, MMA reporters, that?s easy math,? Oliveira said to MMA Fighting. ?I have the longest winning streak today, I don?t leave it in the hands of the judges, I finish them all. Everyone ranked ahead of me is coming off a loss (in the division). The only exception is Dustin Poirier. I think it?s only fair that I?m the next challenger, that I have a chance to fight for the belt. I know I?m No. 6 today and I know there are a lot of fighters ahead of me. Like I said, Dustin Poirier is coming off a win. Conor McGregor said he retired and now he?s booking a fight with Dustin Poirier. We don?t know who should be the other guy, but I think I deserve this. It?s seven in a row, not one, and I don?t go the distance. I just need an opportunity. But it?s not up to me or my team, it?s up to the UFC to look and analyze ? but if they do it right, they?ll see it?s 10 years in the UFC, a 10-year road, and I?ve never turned down any opponent. This is my moment.?
The fighter is ranked no. 6 in the UFC lightweight division and the only fighter ranked ahead of him who has not gotten a title shot is no. 5 Dan Hooker. If a title opportunity doesn?t come Oliveira?s way, then he?d like to fight an opponent ranked ahead of him.
?Justin Gaethje, Dan Hooker, Tony Ferguson, I want to fight someone ranked ahead of me,? Oliveira said. ?Charles Oliveira is ranked No. 6 now. Between No. 1 and 5, (bring) any of them. Dan Hooker said he?d fight in late-November and we?re almost in November now. I?ll fight him, no problem at all. I don?t want to fight someone ranked below me. I?ve been saying this since the beginning of the year. I?m not asking for too much.?
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