Charles Oliveira Expecting 'War' With Tony Ferguson At UFC 256

Mandatory Credit: Jason Silva - USA TODAY Sports & Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC

It's certainly one of the most exciting matchups the promotion could have penned this year on paper, and come fight night, streaking UFC lightweight contender, Charles 'Do Bronx' Oliveira is expecting a "war" with former interim titleholder, Tony 'El Cucuy' Ferguson on December 12 at UFC 256.

Oliveira, the most prolific Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu finisher in the history of the UFC has notched eleven Octagon stoppages with his immense grappling ability, is in line for his second high-profile outing of 2020 when he matches with Ferguson, following a UFC Fight Night Brasilia headliner against common-opposition, Kevin 'The Mo'Town Phenom' Lee in March.

Notching his seventh consecutive finish and victory over the former interim title challenger, Chute Boxe ace, Oliveira was removed from another intriguing pairing this year - with undisclosed reasons forcing him from a UFC Fight Island 4 appearance opposite grappling ace, Beneil Dariush in October. 

While that pairing fell to the wayside, all is not lost for Oliveira, who draws the returning Ferguson on December 12 - hoping to continue his stride to the lightweight title conversation, in arguably the biggest fight of his whopping twenty-seven fight UFC stint. 

The 32-year-old grappling maestro currently sits at #6 in the official 155-pound pile, and a matchup with long-time top contender, Ferguson, who had his astonishing, division-tying twelve-fight winning run halted by Justin 'The Highlight' Gaethje in May - promises fireworks according to the Brazilian.

"I'm happy for this opportunity to fight (Tony) Ferguson," Oliveira said to UFC.com earlier this week. "I'm taking this fight on less than twenty days' notice, but it's a chance to display my talent and show I'm ready to fight any top-five ranked guy like I've been saying for a while now. The time has come. I will shock the world on December 12."

"I'm expecting this fight to be a war because we're both good on the feet and on the ground," Oliveira continued. "We both like to fight, we both move forward. Fans can be sure this is going to be a war, but they can also be sure that when it's done, my arm will be raised. It's my moment. I respect Ferguson in every way - he's tough, a fantastic guy - but now it's my time."

While Oliveira envisions a successful outing against the veteran lightweight mainstay, the opening lines have Oxnard native, Ferguson as the initial betting favourite.

Ferguson, who turns 37-year-olds old in February, has been in this situation time and time again during his incredible rise to the top of the lightweight pile. 

Scoring a staggering twelve consecutive wins at 155-pounds since October 2013, the 10th. Planet Jiu-Jitsu black belt has knocked back the likes of, Gleison Tibau, Josh Thomson, Edson Barboza, Rafael dos Anjos, the above-mentioned, Lee, Anthony Pettis, and Donald Cerrone to name a few during that unbeaten streak.