UFC legend Frankie Edgar has some worries about Charles Oliveira’s mindset.
The Brazilian ex-champion will make his return within the essential event of UFC 326 in Las Vegas on March 7.
Oliveira will challenge BMF champion Max Holloway at T-Mobile Arena, as ‘Do Bronx’ looks so as to add the symbolic belt to his illustrious résumé on MMA’s biggest stage.
At 36 years of age, he’s in pursuit of regaining the lightweight title. Oliveira lost the championship on the size after missing weight ahead of his victory over Justin Gaethje in 2022.
That marked an anticlimactic end to his reign, which was the culmination of an incredible profession resurgence. But unlike during his once-unlikely rise to the highest, Edgar isn’t sure Oliveira has the required desire to do it again.
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Frankie Edgar is unsure if Charles Oliveira is ‘still hungry’
Edgar knows what it takes to achieve the highest of the lightweight division, having done so over a decade before Oliveira joined him within the club of 155-pound champs.
During an appearance on The Bohnfire podcast with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, ‘The Answer’ looked ahead to Oliveira’s rematch with Holloway.
While he sees the BMF champ as charging back to the highest, he doesn’t see the identical motivation in ‘Do Bronx’.
“I believe Holloway is on a tear, form of like a resurgence a bit bit,” Edgar said.
“(Lightweight) is certainly his weight class now. I believe going all the way down to 145 (kilos) was too taxing on him.
“Oliveira, I don’t know, sometimes you only wonder,” he continued. “He had such an up-and-down kind of profession until he became the champion, and you only wonder if he’s still hungry.
“That’s what I’m wondering. I feel like Holloway continues to be chasing the bone.”
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Justin Gaethje could be open to Charles Oliveira or Max Holloway rematch
After becoming interim lightweight champion at UFC 324, Gaethje seemingly arrange a unification showdown with Ilia Topuria.
But should the Spaniard’s return from a hiatus be delayed or not come on the American’s desired return date on the White House on June 14, ‘The Highlight’ has other options.
Talking to Bloody Elbow, Gaethje pointed to the Holloway vs. Oliveira winner as a possible next opponent, admitting he would really like the possibility to get a loss back after being knocked out by ‘Blessed’ and submitted by ‘Do Bronx’.
“If Ilia can’t go, then the winner of Max vs Charles on the White House could be the one which is sensible,” Gaethje said.
“That’s the cardboard I need to be on. I’m not chasing anyone else, but when the chance is there on that stage, I’ll be ready.
“I’d absolutely like to get that one (with Holloway) back. Max is a legend and I respect him lots, and if that fight lines up, I’d take it in a heartbeat,” he added.