Charles Oliveira (left)(image via UFC/YouTube)

By FCF Staff

The expectation is that Dustin Poirier is going to challenge Charles Oliveira later this year, and the new, lightweight champ sounds very confident that he’ll be retaining his title.

Oliveira laid claim to the vacant lightweight crown at UFC 262 in May, by stopping Michael Chandler in round two. On account of Poirier’s TKO win over Conor McGregor earlier his month, the consensus is that the former interim champ will battle Oliveira next.

Recently the Brazilian star spoke with MMA Fighting, and while discussing how he sees a fight playing out with Poirier, he said this.

“I believe the firepower in my hands, but I think in a fight against Dustin, I believe I can submit him,” Oliveira said. “Working with my hands, with my strikes, I would definitely cause a lot of damage and then submit him.

“It’s going to be a war, a great fight. He deserves all the respect in the world, he has heavy hands and good jiu-jitsu, too, so I think it’s going to be a great fight, but I believe in my victory.”

Oliveira (31-8) is riding a nine-fight, winning streak and hasn’t lost a bout since 2017, when he was stopped by Paul Felder.

Poirier (28-6) has won three straight, since he was submitted by the now-former champ, Khabib Nurmagomedov  in 2019.