Arman Tsarukyan to face Charles Oliveira at UFC 300
It seems Islam Makhachev isn’t necessarily facing off with Charles Oliveira in a rematch for his next bout. Announced by Dana White, Charles Oliveira is back at UFC 300 and is facing the challenging Arman Tsarukyan for the number one contender at UFC 300.
Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan: number one contender
IM BAAAAAAACK!!!
Two more fight announcements 👊🏻👊🏻#UFC299 5-round co-main, Poirier vs Saint-Denis#UFC300 Number one contender fight, Oliveira vs Tsarukyan pic.twitter.com/aSPZtGEnAT
— danawhite (@danawhite) January 8, 2024
Charles Oliveira was originally scheduled to face Islam Makhachev in the main event of UFC 294. He was forced out due to a nasty gash over his eye in sparring. This allowed Alexander Volkanovski to step in who Makhachev knocked out spectacularly.
Oliveira will now face Arman Tsarukyan, who is the boogeyman of the division, and went life and death with Makhachev in 2019. Tsarukyan has gone 8-1 since then, the lone loss being a razor thin decision to Mateusz Gamrot.
Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan will fight on UFC 300. That card has the following confirmed fights: Jiri Prochazka vs. Aleksandr Rakic, Calvin Kattar vs. Aljamain Sterling, and Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage. One of the rumored fights is Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad, though that one is not confirmed yet.
The winner of Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan will likely get the title shot, though timelines will not line up. Makhachev is observing Ramadan and will not be back until March, according to him.
I’ll be ready to smash someone in March, or see you after Ramadan 👊🏼🖐🏼 pic.twitter.com/gNGUygrUSj
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) December 28, 2023
This could set Makhachev up for a fight in March. UFC 300 is this April. Of course Makhachev could make a return later, though that is pure conjecture. Don’t discount Islam Makhachev fighting on UFC 300 against Leon Edwards or Justin Gaethje either. The event is still looking for it’s marquee matchup to bill the card.
Fans will also notice that Dana White announced Dustin Poirier returning at UFC 299 against surging contender Benoit Saint-Denis in the co main event of that card. Headlining UFC 299 is Sean O’Malley and Chito Vera.
