Fact Check: Was Charles Oliveira first choice to face Conor McGregor before Dana White announced UFC 329 fight against Max Holloway?

Current BMF champion Charles Oliveira believes he should have been Conor McGregor’s opponent for the Irish star’s UFC comeback. McGregor is set to return after nearly five years away from the Octagon when he faces Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329.The fight has generated huge excitement among MMA fans. While Oliveira is happy to see McGregor return, he feels the matchup could have been different. The Brazilian also shared his thoughts on how the fight may play out over five rounds.

Charles Oliveira says Conor McGregor chose Max Holloway instead of him

Charles Oliveira has suggested that he was originally expected to face Conor McGregor before the UFC finalized a bout against Max Holloway. According to Oliveira, the former two-division champion was given significant freedom regarding the details of his comeback fight.Speaking in a recent interview, Oliveira indicated that McGregor had considerable influence over the matchup. The Brazilian explained that many people within the sport believed he would be the logical opponent for McGregor’s return. However, he believes the Irishman selected a different path that he felt was more suitable for himself.Oliveira added that every fighter tries to make choices that give them the best chance of success.

He said that is simply part of the business and something athletes must accept.The former UFC lightweight champion also analyzed the upcoming fight between McGregor and Holloway. He believes the opening round will be extremely important. In his view, McGregor needs to make an immediate impact because he has not competed for a long period.Oliveira pointed out that Holloway has remained highly active and has repeatedly shown his ability to perform strongly over five rounds.

Because of that experience, the later stages of the fight could favor the Hawaiian star if McGregor is unable to secure an early finish or establish complete control.He also noted that Holloway’s pace, movement, and conditioning could become major advantages as the contest progresses. Since Holloway will not have to deal with a difficult weight cut, Oliveira feels he could be even more dangerous in the championship rounds.Despite his opinions on the matchup, Oliveira expects McGregor’s return to be a massive success. He said the atmosphere inside the arena should be special because McGregor remains one of the biggest attractions in combat sports.Meanwhile, MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian recently predicted a huge financial reward for McGregor’s comeback. He believes the former UFC champion could earn at least $60 million if UFC 329 delivers the expected level of success and fan interest.