Ex-BMF champ preferred different opponent for Charles Oliveira at UFC 335

Jorge Masvidal has a different suggestion for BMF champion Charles Oliveira's first title defense.

Oliveira (37-11 MMA, 25-11 UFC) takes on Diego Lopes (28-8 MMA, 7-3 UFC) in the UFC 335 main event on Dec. 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Paramount+). After falling short in two title fights against UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, Lopes will be making his lightweight debut against Oliveira.

"I don't like Lopes, his first fight at '55 against Oliveira for the BMF belt," Masvidal said on "Deep Waters." "I would have liked to see him in one fight and then fight Charles, because Charles has done so much in the f*cking sport and at 155. Lopes has done a lot of cool sh*t, as well, too. I'm not going to hate on him, but I didn't think he'd be the guy to challenge Oliveira for the BMF belt. There's a couple of guys. I would have said run Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira for both belts or something like that maybe."

Masvidal gives Oliveira the striking edge over Lopes but worries about the amount of damage the former UFC lightweight champion has taken throughout his career.

"Less milage on Diego," Masvidal said. "I think Charles is more well rounded, has more threats – his elbows, his knees. But I think Charles has way more miles than Diego. He has a little bit more miles on the chin, and Diego is pretty fresh. ... But if Charles could open up with knees and high kicks right away, I think he can neutralize him right off him. Maybe he can get a stoppage.

"Lopes always does the Tyson shell where he gets close enough, and he opens up. If Charles can just time him with those beautiful knees that he has, the good teeps, the one-twos straight down the pipe. Charles is one of my favorite fighters. I want to go with Charles, but I feel like they're trying to set up Diego and get him that."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ex-BMF champ preferred different opponent for Charles Oliveira at UFC 335