Oliveira Says McGregor Chose Holloway Over Him to Avoid a Harder Fight

Charles Oliveira has publicly accused Conor McGregor of deliberately avoiding a fight with him, claiming the Irish star opted for a matchup against Max Holloway because it represented the easier path.

Oliveira, speaking in a recent interview, made clear he believes the more logical and deserving opponent for McGregor was himself. He stated that everyone recognizes the fight should have been against him, and that McGregor consciously chose a more comfortable opponent instead. The two will now meet at a catchweight of 170 pounds.

The Brazilian, known as "Do Bronx," carries a 37-11-0 record and currently sits ranked third in the lightweight division, with an overall pound-for-pound ranking of 11. The 36-year-old out of Chute Boxe Diego Lima is one of the most dangerous submission artists in the sport, averaging 2.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside 2.22 takedowns in the same span. He lands 3.35 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 54 percent accuracy.

Holloway, meanwhile, enters the McGregor fight ranked fourth at lightweight and ninth pound-for-pound. The 34-year-old Hawaiian holds a 27-9-0 record and is one of MMA's most prolific volume strikers, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute. He is a near-pure striker, averaging just 0.24 takedowns per 15 minutes.

McGregor, at 37 years old and carrying a 22-6-0 record, is a southpaw who lands 5.32 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. The Irishman has not held divisional ranking in the lightweight division based on available data.

Why it matters

• Oliveira is ranked above Holloway at lightweight, giving his claim of being the harder fight a statistical basis
• The McGregor-Holloway bout at 170 pounds removes both men temporarily from lightweight title contention picture
• Oliveira's comments signal he remains firmly in the mix and is positioning himself for a big fight regardless of how the McGregor-Holloway contest unfolds