CONOR MCGREGOR has been accused of “ducking” former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.
Brazilian sensation Oliveira began campaigning for a showdown with The Notorious after winning the belt – which he was stripped of last May– in May 2021.
Do Bronx continued his calls for a clash with the UFC’s poster boy after his submission victories over Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje last December and in May respectively.
McGregor hasn’t entertained the prospect of facing the submission specialist as much as other fighters in the lightweight division, which hasn’t gone unnoticed by former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos.
During an appearance on the Podpah Podcast, Cigano said: “Did you see that not long ago he (Charles Oliveira) challenged (Conor) McGregor?”
“And McGregor is kind of ducking. Of course, we know, just ducking. It’s obvious he won’t want to, it’s a bad fight for him.”
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Oliveira doubled down on his call-out of McGregor last month but was met with radio silence.
He told ESPN Brazil: “It would be a very good fight for me.
“It would put a lot of money in my pocket, and [at this moment] that’s the most important thing. And it would also be really good for my legacy, for me to have in my story.
“Regardless, if he’s coming from defeat or not, he’s a guy who’s made history, so I think it would be great, but it’s not just up to me.
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“If it were up to me, this fight would already be happening. I have a daughter to raise.
“Everyone wants to fight Conor, it’s not just me who wants to. Everyone knows that fighting Conor is very profitable. I’m talking about money.”
A fight with McGregor could very well be in Oliveira’s future if he gets past Islam Makhachev in their vacant lightweight title fight at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi.
McGregor, meanwhile, is currently in the final stages of recovering from the horrific broken leg he suffered in his trilogy fight with Poirier last July.
The Irishman’s head coach – John Kavanagh – recently told the BBC: “He’s healthy, happy and it’s great to have him back.”
“The last few sessions in the gym here were MMA-orientated – he’s got the all-clear for that now.
“He did a great session last night, we got some great rounds in. He hasn’t lost a beat and was looking great.
“Trust me, I got to have a bit of a wrestle with him last night and I felt it…
“When that silverback arm goes around your neck there’s a bit of an extra squeeze there… he’s very, very strong at the moment.”