Charles Oliveira asks Justin Gaethje "Are you gonna retire?" and says he is next in line
Oliveira, who fights Diego Lopes at UFC 335 on 12 December, said he needs to understand "what's the next step" and that he deserves the lightweight title shot.
Post by @MMAFighting on X
Charles Oliveira asked Justin Gaethje at the UFC 335 and UFC 336 press conference whether the lightweight champion will retire, and said he is next in line for the title.
Oliveira said a win against Diego Lopes puts him in line for a title shot and that "we just need to understand what's the next step."
"Are you gonna retire?" Oliveira asked, addressing Gaethje. He then asked whether Gaethje is going to keep fighting.
"But I'm the next one in line for the title," Oliveira said. "I deserve that."
Oliveira meets Lopes at UFC 335 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday 12 December. The main card starts at 2am UK time on Sunday 13 December, live on TNT Sports. The UFC's official rankings list Gaethje as lightweight champion and Oliveira third.
Gaethje won the undisputed title by finishing Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 in June and suggested straight afterwards that it could be his last fight. His teammate Drew Dober has since said he is back in the gym and is "not, you know, hanging them up quite yet" (read more).
Every UK fight result and what's next, every Friday. Get the free UK fight briefing
More MMA from Combat Sports UK
- Scotland's Chris Duncan wears blue face paint and a Saltire to UFC 334 weigh-ins
- Gable Steveson reportedly set to face Terrance Chatman at UFC 336 in Toronto
- Alex Pereira answers Adesanya: "I can lose this fight and that makes me stronger"
- Carlos Prates says Islam Makhachev is not ducking him, just "a little bit lazy"
The UK fight briefing
The stories, results and upcoming fights worth knowing. Every Friday.