Makhachev calls Oliveira's request for lightweight title match with McGregor 'embarrassing'

KARACHI: Charles Oliveira's rival Islam Makhachev has called the Brazilian's request for a lightweight title match with Conor McGregor "embarrassing."

On October 22, he will compete against seasoned challenger Makhachev in Abu Dhabi at UFC 280, who has been underwhelmed by his repeated attempts to take on the Irishman.

After a gruelling UFC career on his journey to the gold, Oliveira thinks he should be able to secure a lucrative matchup against McGregor because of the pay-per-view percentage the winner would receive. 

"Charles is very good, he has a good win streak," Makhachev told ESPN's DC & RC. "He beat a lot of tough opponents, but for me it's embarrassing when the UFC lightweight champion asks for someone like Nate Diaz or Conor McGregor, who [last] won like five years ago. Nobody remembers when these guys win some fights.

"He tried to call [for] Diaz, McGregor, but he forgets my name and when they ask about me he says he needs money or something like this. But when he fights with Dustin [Poirier] or Justin Gaethje, he doesn’t think about money. Now when he says he has to fight Islam, he either tries to say, 'I want to fight in Brazil, I want to fight in the end of this year, or I need some money'."

According to Oliveira, he should be able to secure a lucrative match against McGregor because of the pay-per-view percentage the champion would receive following a taxing UFC career on the path to the gold. 

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