Charles Oliveira wants another opportunity to fight Justin Gaethje, and he is proposing that every available piece of championship hardware be placed on the line. The 36-year-old Brazilian defeated the 37-year-old American at UFC 274 on May 7, 2022, via submission at 3:22 of the first round. The vacant UFC Lightweight Championship was on the line, for Gaethje only, after Oliveira was stripped for missing weight.
Gaethje captured UFC’s undisputed Lightweight Championship by defeating Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250, and received a special belt commemorating the event held at The White House. Oliveira, meanwhile, holds the BMF Championship following his unanimous decision victory over Max Holloway in March.
Together, those prizes have given Oliveira an opportunity to campaign for what he views as a three-belt showdown. Speaking to reporter Bia Galey, Oliveira warned Gaethje when discussing the potential rematch.
There’s nowhere to run,” Oliveira said.
Oliveira originally proposed placing the lightweight and BMF championships at stake. After supporters pointed out Gaethje’s additional White House hardware, the former lightweight champion embraced the possibility of leaving with all three belts.
Put all three on the line. There’s no problem at all,” Oliveira said.
The White House belt is commemorative rather than a separately recognized UFC championship, but it gives Oliveira’s proposal a marketable hook: a possible “Three-Belt Charles” moment involving the lightweight title, BMF championship and Gaethje’s special event belt.
Oliveira believes he and Gaethje have unfinished business due to their history stemming from UFC 274. Combined with his current BMF championship, Oliveira believes this makes him the logical choice for Gaethje’s first title defense.
Do Bronxs also confirmed to MMA reporter Bia Galev that UFC officials previously approached him about facing Mauricio Ruffy, but he declined because the proposed date did not provide enough preparation time. Oliveira indicated that he would have accepted the matchup for November or December. Their beef began online and involved Oliveira’s wife several months back.
Ruffy has since been booked against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331. Oliveira said he has not received another offer following that booking, while speculation about a possible fight with Diego Lopes also failed to produce anything concrete.
For now, Oliveira remains focused on Gaethje and considers himself next in line for the lightweight championship. The UFC has not announced the matchup, however, and the winner of Tsarukyan-Ruffy could complicate the title picture.
Should the promotion choose Oliveira, it would have a ready-made revenge story—and the possibility of “Three-Belt Charles” emerging from the rematch.
