Charles Oliveira gave some insight on Islam Makhachev’s projected title defense vs. Arman Tsarukyan.

Lightweight champion Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) is expected to make his next title defense against Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) on Jan. 18 at UFC 311, although nothing is confirmed.

Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) suffered losses to both Makhachev and Tsarukyan. His setback to Tsarukyan was a razor thin one at UFC 300, but his submission loss to Makhachev in their title fight at UFC 280 was a much more definitive one.

“I’ve told everyone: I think I wasn’t there (against Makhachev). I didn’t fight Islam,” Oliveira told New York Post Sports through an interpreter.

If Tsarukyan is indeed next for Makhachev, Oliveira sees similarities in their game. However, he’s leaning towards Makhachev to get the job done once again.

“They have very similar games, and I think each has to come and look out for the same things,” Oliveira said. “You have to watch out for the striking because they do offer some striking and they also have to be very mindful of the ground game.

“It’s very, very similar styles, and I think that they have to watch out for the same things from each other. I think Islam is a little step ahead of Arman. I think he’s just stronger by a little bit, but when push comes to shove, any of them could win.”

Oliveira runs things back with Michael Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) Nov. 16 in the UFC 309 co-main event at Madison Square Garden in New York. Oliveira won their first bout by knockout to claim the vacant lightweight title at UFC 262.

Spending the first half of the season as a spectator while he worked his way back from Achilles tendinitis took its toll on San Francisco 49ers All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey.

McCaffrey described being in a “dark” place during his eight weeks on the sideline, dealing with both physical pain and the frustration over not being able to play. That is now in the past with McCaffrey set to make his season debut for San Francisco on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“Sometimes you just take it for granted that you play this game for a living and it’s what you do, it’s what you train for,” McCaffrey said Friday. “But when it’s taken from you, even just for a little bit of time, it makes you really appreciate every single day when you’re on the grass.”

McCaffrey returned to practice on Monday and has made it through four days of work on the field without any setbacks, clearing the way for him to play. He is listed as questionable because he is still on injured reserve but is set to be activated Saturday.

“We’ll take him off IR tomorrow and then he’ll be good to go,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “So unless something crazy happens on this plane ride, he should be good to go once he gets off IR.”

The injury news isn’t all positive for San Francisco with star defensive end Nick Bosa listed as questionable after injuring his hip in practice Wednesday. Shanahan said he’s concerned Bosa might not be able to play Sunday.

“He wasn’t able to do a lot (at practice). He was extremely limited,” Shanahan said. “Hoping he’ll be all right, but we’ll see on Sunday.”

San Francisco will also be without starting cornerback Charvarius Ward, who has been away from the team all week following the death last week of his 1-year-old daughter, Amani Joy. A memorial service was held Friday in Dallas and general manager John Lynch led a contingent of team officials there to support Ward.

[RELATED: 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey headlines 5 key additions for teams chasing playoffs]

McCaffrey has been dealing with Achilles tendinitis since early August. He missed almost all of training camp before returning to practice just before the season opener. He was scratched at the last minute before that game against the New York Jets on Sept. 9 and then had a setback at practice Sept. 12.

He was placed on injured reserve two days later and spent the past seven weeks resting and rehabilitating, including a trip to Germany for treatment that McCaffrey didn’t want to talk about Friday.

“I keep all that stuff private,” he said “When you’re on IR and hurt, you’ll do anything to come back. I feel good right now. That’s all that matters.”

The 49ers (4-4) are counting on McCaffrey’s return for a second-half boost. San Francisco has sputtered in the first half of the season with the offense scoring 3.9 fewer points per game than last season.

Jordan Mason has done a good job filling in for McCaffrey with 685 yards rushing in eight games, but the Niners have sorely missed the reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year in the red zone and in the passing game. San Francisco’s 26 catches by running backs are fourth lowest in the league after ranking in the top five when McCaffrey was available the past two seasons.

McCaffrey led the NFL last season with 2,023 yards from scrimmage and was tied for the league lead with 21 touchdowns as he helped lead San Francisco to the Super Bowl.

After missing 23 games because of injuries in his final two full seasons with Carolina, McCaffrey had been healthy the past two seasons.

He missed only one game combined in 2022-23 — a meaningless Week 18 game last season for San Francisco when he had a sore calf. His 798 combined touches from scrimmage in the regular season and playoffs were the third most for any player in a two-year span in the past 10 years.

But he has no concern about the injury going forward.

“I feel good now,” he said. “I wouldn’t be out here if it was still bothering me. I feel great.”

NOTES: DT Kevin Givens (groin) and WR Chris Conley (hamstring) will miss the game. … WR Deebo Samuel (rib, oblique), S Malik Mustapha (calf) and OL Jon Feliciano (knee) are all listed as questionable. … DL Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) won’t be activated off IR to play this week.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Daniel Cormier explained what makes Jon Jones’ wrestling so good.

Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) defends his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) in the UFC 309 main event Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Having fought both guys multiple times, Cormier can say now that Jones was very good at using his physical attributes to secure takedowns.

“It comes down to the spacing and the timing,” Cormier said on “Good Guy/Bad Guy” with Chael Sonnen. “Jon Jones’ spacing is so important in his takedowns. In space, Jon Jones can’t get a takedown. He was never going to take me down by actually shooting a shot, getting to my legs and taking me down. But what he was very good at was pushing you up against the fence, right? Switching down to a double leg.

“He’s got an 84-inch reach, a 7-footer’s reach. So, if he can push you against the octagon, level change and get his hands locked, he can take you down. That’s what he was very good at. Defensively, he was so tall that I would get his leg up, and he would still kind of hop it. That made it difficult to take him down.”

That being said, Cormier doesn’t expect to see too many grappling exchanges between Jones and Miocic.

“I’d imagine, if it turns into long wrestling sequences, it would benefit Jon to be in the octagon side because I don’t know that his shots in space are good enough to take Stipe down,” Cormier said. “But, I don’t believe that it’s going to be much wrestling in this fight.

“I think they’re going to be boxing, kicking, and striking. … They’re both difficult to take down, but I would say against the fence, I think Jon is really good at dropping down with his long arms, locking under the butt and throwing you to the mat.”

Ahead of his first heavyweight title defense at UFC 309, Jon Jones justifies Stipe Miocic as his worthy opponent because he believes legacy trumps activity.

Former heavyweight champ Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) has not won a UFC fight since defeating Daniel Cormier at UFC 252 in August 2020. His last fight was a brutal outing as former UFC champ Francis Ngannou knocked him out at UFC 260 in March 2021.

For Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC), the last image of Miocic should not be the thought on everyone’s mind ahead of their main event clash at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 16.

“I feel that it’s unfortunate that we live in a world where one bad performance discredits a person so much,” Jones told Kevin Iole. “Stipe has beat everyone. I mean, Junior dos Santos, Francis Ngannou, Daniel Cormier – some of the biggest names, you know? Many champions he’s defeated. I feel like I’m wise enough to know that one bad night doesn’t make a man or break a man. Stipe is every bit of worthy as my opponent.

“It’s not easy winning championships back-to-back, especially in the heavyweight division. What he’s done is truly special, and I just want to give the man his opportunity. I know fighting me, for a lot of athletes, is a really big deal. If anyone deserves to be in there with me, it’s Stipe Miocic.”

During his first run as champion, Miocic set the UFC heavyweight title defense record with three. That’s why so many view him as the greatest heavyweight champion. He furthered that legacy by regaining and then defending the title in a trilogy with Cormier.

However, among the biggest complaints about the matchup with Jones is that many believe Miocic’s best days are behind him and that he lacks activity. There’s also Tom Aspinall, who currently holds the interim heavyweight title, but that’s a completely different aspect of the matchup.

It will be nearly 44 months between fights for Miocic. Jones, who was away for almost 37 months preparing to make his heavyweight debut, points to his successful return against Ciryl Gane as a reason not to dismiss Miocic.

Despite the inactivity and Miocic not having won a fight in over four years, Jones also believes fulfilling a dream MMA matchup is well worth it.

“What it shows me is our boss’ loyalty to his athletes,” Jones said. “I mean, Stipe Miocic vs. Francis back in the day, it had the whole world excited. How would this ‘firefighter,’ what people like to call him, how would this 240-pound athlete go up (against) a guy like Francis, this larger-than-life character? They gave us a great little saga or whatnot, you want to call it. Dana White doesn’t forget that, you know? I believe guys like Stipe and I, we help take the UFC to a new level, and just because we’ve been out for a while doesn’t mean we’re not great athletes and we don’t have strong fanbases.

“… I’m 37 years old and I’m not a person to be counted out, and at 42, I don’t believe Stipe is a person to be counted out. Styles make matchups, and for the real long-term MMA fans who grew up watching both Stipe and I compete, I think this fight is always going to be intriguing to them.”