Charles Oliveira leaves door open on featherweight return for marquee UFC fight

Charles Oliveira is open to the possibility of returning to 145 pounds for the right fight.

As of now, Oliveira is firmly focused on the lightweight division, and for good reason. He is scheduled to take on Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 326 on March 7. The BMF Championship will be at stake.

During a recent fan Q&A session, Oliveira was asked about the possibility of moving back down to featherweight. While he didn’t commit to a return to the weight class, he didn’t rule it out (via MMAFighting).

“Sometimes I think about talking to the bosses and dropping to 145, but I don’t know if I can make 145 anymore,” Oliveira said (h/t Canal Encarada). “I don’t know… I think moving up to 170 would be easier. I’m not sure I can make 145 anymore. If there were a fight with Conor McGregor, something good for my legacy and my story, that would be cool, but the full focus right now is lightweight. Win now and get another shot at the title.”

The former UFC Lightweight Champion went on to say that he’d need to be enticed by a major fight in order to make the trip back down to featherweight.

“I think I can still make 145,” Oliveira said. “If it’s for the title… I don’t know if it was a dream I just had or something from my imagination. I win the [BMF] belt now, I fight for the [lightweight] title at the end of the year, then I give up both titles and drop to 145 to fight for that belt. But I don’t know if I was dreaming or just going crazy. I don’t know. We’ll see.”

Oliveira had a history of struggling to make weight for his bouts at 145 pounds. He missed weight several times in the weight class. Whether or not he’d be able to make the proper adjustments remains to be seen.

Do you think there’s any chance Charles Oliveira returns to the featherweight division? Chime in below with your comment.