Contrary to what Charles Oliveira claims, Dan Hooker says he was never offered to fight him in Rio.

Oliveira (35-11 MMA, 23-11 UFC) accused Hooker of rejecting a bout offer for the UFC Fight Night 261 headliner on Oct. 11 at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro. Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC), who's been recovering from hand surgery, initially called out Oliveira for a November showdown and explained why that's the earliest he can fight.

"Charlie Olives, you've been lying in my name, my friend," Hooker told Sky Sports New Zealand. "He said I was offered a fight with him October in Brazil, and I turned it down. False accusations. I was never offered. You think that's really how that phone call went? You think in your mind of minds, in your heart of hearts, that I got a phone call from the UFC that said, 'Do you want to fight semi-conscious Charles Oliveira in eight weeks?' And I said, 'Oh no, I'm scared of Charlie Olives' lifeless body floating around the cage.' No, that's not how that went down. I was never offered that fight. I require medical clearance for my hand. I went to the surgeon. He did not medically clear me for October. He cleared me for November."

As a result, Oliveira will take on Rafael Fiziev (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) in the main event for the UFC's return to Brazil. Hooker questioned Oliveira and his team's decision to take a fight just three months after suffering a clean knockout loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 317.

"I can't even imagine why he's fighting in October,"...

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