Charles Oliveira questions UFC's matchmaking for aging Tony Ferguson: "That hurts him a little bit"

Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira recently spoke about his foe-turned-friend, UFC legend Tony 'El Cucuy' Ferguson. After his last loss to Michael Chiesa back in August, Ferguson surpassed B.J. Penn's record of the longest losing streak in UFC history with eight.

Despite fans, fellow fighters, and the media suggesting that Ferguson retire, the former interim UFC lightweight king wants to keep fighting. In an interview with MMA Fighting, Charles Oliveira painted a picture for Ferguson's career if he chooses to continue.

Oliveira said:

“He [Ferguson] deserves all the respect in the world just to be fighting still, he deserves a standing ovation for everything he’s done in the UFC. But I think the UFC should also give him some help and put him against someone [around his age] so they can put on a show and we applaud them.”

He added:

“But to put these young kids, kids coming in hungry for attention over a big name like him, that’s a bit complicated. It sucks. The guy has a certain age, and you put him against young kids to fight him? That hurts him a little bit.”

Oliveira faced Ferguson back in December 2020 and beat him via unanimous decision. The loss was the second in Ferguson's historic eight-fight skid. As for Oliveira, he followed up the Ferguson win with a title-winning TKO victory over Michael Chandler, breaking the record for most finishes in UFC history. The two have been friends since.

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Charles Oliveira to rematch Michael Chandler at UFC 309

At UFC 309 inside the historic Madison Square Garden, Charles Oliveira will rematch Michael Chandler in a five-round co-main event of the night. The two first faced each other at UFC 262 in May 2021 for the vacant UFC lightweight title.

The bout was as dramatic as they come. Oliveira took Chandler's back mid-way into the first round after getting threatened on the feet. 'Iron' Michael Chandler eventually escaped and got back to his feet. He then hurt Oliveira with hard punches and nearly finished him to close the first round.

Early in the second round, Charles Oliveira marvelously turned the tides by dropping Chandler with a flush left hook. A few more hard punches and the Brazilian was declared the winner and new champion via TKO. It was the culmination of a 21-year journey for the Sao Paolo native.

The win set the record for most finishes in UFC history with 17, a record Oliveira extended to 20 in his next few fights.

Watch Oliveira vs Chandler I here: