LAS VEGAS – Former UFC lightweight champion Carlos Oliveira he prefers to let his fight do the talking.
Oliveira (34-9 MMA, 22-9 UFC) faces Arman Tsarukyan (21-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) on Saturday at UFC 300 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas . Tsarukyan chose some words for Oliveira, alluding to him being one-dimensional. Tsarukyan explained that it’s nothing personal, he’s just trying to liven up the fight because Oliveira doesn’t want to.
“I have to talk about him because he doesn’t talk about me,” Tsarukyan told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “I want people to watch this fight more. That’s why I have to say something about him. I’m just trying to get more fans to watch this fight.”
Oliveira was asked about Tsarukyan’s comments when he took the podium on Wednesday and was not interested in the back and forth.
“Some people sell the fight in a different way. Some people will say things, and it doesn’t matter,” Oliveira said through an interpreter. “I see the fight in one way: when that door closes, I am a lion hunting. This is what I do. That’s my style of selling a fight.”
Oliveira is not wrong. He is the UFC’s all-time leader in finishes – including stoppage wins over Michael Chandler, Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier and Beneil Dariush. With a win over Tsarukyan, Oliveira hopes to emerge as the No. 1 contender to regain the gold.
“Dana even said that I was next in line,” said Oliveira. “So I got hurt. So Islam is supposedly hurt too. A lot of people will say things, but let’s wait. Let’s consider one thing at a time. Let’s get this one on Saturday and then we’ll talk about it.
For more information on the card, visit the MMA Junkie events hub to UFC 300.
