DC: Oliveira's dominant win over Holloway cost him McGregor fight

Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier has weighed in on why Charles Oliveira was reportedly bypassed for a blockbuster fight with Conor McGregor, arguing that Oliveira's dominant performance against Max Holloway is directly responsible for costing him that matchup. Cormier contended that the convincing win made matchmakers reluctant to place Oliveira opposite McGregor.

Oliveira, 36, carries a 37-11 record and currently sits third in the lightweight division, also ranking eleventh in the pound-for-pound standings. The Brazilian out of Chute Boxe Diego Lima is one of the most dangerous finishers 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 54 percent accuracy rate, making him a threat across all phases of a fight.

Holloway, 34, entered that contest as one of the division's elite talents, ranked fourth at lightweight and ninth pound-for-pound. The Hawaiian carries a 27-9 record and is among the highest-volume strikers in MMA, averaging a remarkable 7.2 significant strikes per minute. His output against Oliveira only underlines how commanding the Brazilian's victory must have appeared — Holloway rarely loses exchanges on volume.

Cormier, 47, finished his career at 22-3 and has become one of the sport's most prominent analysts since retiring. His commentary carries weight, and his read on matchmaking decisions is informed by years spent at the top of the sport.

Why it matters

• Oliveira's ranking and finishing ability may be pricing him out of marquee McGregor promotional matchups
• The lightweight division's top five is exceptionally deep, with Oliveira at third and Holloway at fourth
• A win dominant enough to shift matchmaking calculations signals Oliveira remains a top threat at 155 pounds