The UFC light-weight division has produced many electrifying fighters, however none have captivated audiences fairly like UFC icon Charles Oliveira. Whereas a middling run at featherweight and a lackluster begin to his 155-lb might have stored him out of the highlight, an 11-fight profitable streak thrust “do Bronxs” into main stardom within the blended martial arts sphere.This warpath of unchecked domination ultimately introduced him the light-weight championship, which he would defend as soon as earlier than having it ripped away from him in beautiful vogue. Nonetheless chasing gold, Oliveira makes a stand in his residence nation at UFC Rio, the place he faces Polish standout Mateusz Gamrot.
Though not essentially recognized for placing on thrilling bouts, Mateusz Gamrot stands as the most effective grapplers within the light-weight class, confirmed by his stellar record of Octagon victories over Ľudovít Klein, Rafael dos Anjos, Rafael Fiziev and Arman Tsarukyan.
Now again within the winner’s circle following a splendid conquer the aforementioned Klein again in Might, “Gamer” is trying to punch his ticket towards his personal shot on the light-weight throne by toppling the venerable Brazilian in his personal yard.
Moving into the cage for the primary time after a mind-blowing knockout loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 317 for the strap he as soon as held, Oliveira is all enterprise heading into some of the essential contests of his profession. At 35 years of age, together with a fighter’s lifetime of accrued harm, this might very effectively be the South American phenom’s last push towards the highest as the opportunity of retirement looms within the wake of one other stoppage defeat.
Earlier than he competes this weekend, let’s have a look again on the wonderful journey of Charles Oliveira.
Charles Oliveira’s Early Life, Introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Born on October 17, 1989, eventual UFC icon Charles Oliveira was born in Vicente de Carvalho in Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil. Regardless of the stupendous athlete he would grow to be later in his life, his early childhood was marred by numerous sicknesses, being tormented by each coronary heart murmurs and rheumatic fever at simply seven years outdated. It was throughout these early years that he additionally started working to assist help his household dwelling within the poverty-ridden favela they resided in, promoting meals together with his mom out of a trailer.
Whereas working, he, by probability, met just a few youngsters who skilled in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at an academy within the space. Changing into associates with these youngsters, the then 12-year outdated Oliveira was requested to hitch them on the faculty to start out practising the self-discipline as effectively, which he instantly took to, as his sicknesses, which rendered him unable to take part in sports activities, went away, leaving him way more bodily succesful.
Coaching beneath embellished black belt competitor Roger Coelho, Charles Oliveira got here into his personal as a grappler within the early 2000’s, turning into a São Paulo champion simply two months after first placing on a gi as a white belt. In 2006, he really left his mark on the game after capturing 16 medals throughout many tournaments. Over the subsequent few years, he continued to stack up increasingly more accolades, netting Jiu-Jitsu championships at each blue and purple belt.
Early Regional and UFC Run
As 2007 rolled round, apart from combating in grappling tournaments, Charles Oliveira started to show his consideration in direction of a budding blended martial arts profession. Making his novice debut that very same yr, “do Bronxs” (which is a nod to his residence favela and his first health club, Bronx) made himself a fighter to be careful for after submitting Rui Machado in 15 seconds.
Leaping straight into the skilled ranks for his subsequent tilt, the Brazilian proved to be an absolute power of nature on the regional circuit, profitable his first 12 fights in a row, even taking him a Ring of Fight belt alongside the way in which. This sting of success earned him an invite to hitch the UFC, solidifying his place as arguably the very best prospect in his nation.
Charles Oliveira Begins Octagon Run
Coming into the Octagon for the primary time in 2010 at UFC on Versus 2, the newly-minted black belt turned heads in an enormous method by ending one of many extra sturdy names within the light-weight class on the time, Darren Elkins with an armbar in simply over 40 seconds, who had by no means been submitted prior. Recording one other tapout efficiency over Final Fighter Winner Efrain Escudero in his subsequent match, Oliveira would lastly lose his undefeated standing after succumbing to a grotesque kneebar from promotional legend Jim Miller within the first spherical.
Going 0-1 with one no-contest in his subsequent two fights within the promotion, eventual UFC icon Charles Oliveira made the choice to drop right down to the featherweight division, making his debut within the weight class towards Eric Correctly.
Kicking off his begin in a brand new class in monumental vogue, he stopped Correctly with a horrendous calf slicer in nearly two minutes. Taking out his second Final Fighter champion in Jonathan Brookins, Oliveira encountered the primary skid of his skilled profession after dropping to each Cub Swanson and Frankie Edgar.
The Swanson setback particularly additionally marked an unlucky pattern in Oliveira’s time at 145-lb: his tendency to fail on the scales. First lacking weight within the Swanson bout, the Brazilian wound up falling wanting the mark thrice in his 9 at featherweight, notably coming in at 155-lb for his 2016 contest with Ricardo Lamas. He additionally by no means managed to succeed in prime contender standing within the division, dropping a number of essential tilts towards the likes of Max Holloway and Anthony Pettis.
Return to Light-weight, Surge Towards Light-weight title
Returning to his unique residence of light-weight in 2017, Charles Oliveira rebounded with an enormous first spherical submission of former Bellator champion Will Brooks, tapping him out with a stellar rear bare choke in simply two minutes. The stopping energy of the victory didn’t final lengthy, nevertheless, as “do Bronxs” would have all his momentum taken from him after faltering to Paul Felder through second spherical TKO loss.
Whereas referred to as an outstanding fighter and thrilling finisher, Oliveira hadn’t been in a position to really name himself the most effective opponents on the planet following his doomed stint at featherweight and seemingly comparable go at light-weight. It was after a 2018 tapout of divisional veteran Clay Guida that the Brazilian lastly started to hit his stride as a championship hopeful, not dropping one other bout over the subsequent 4 years.
Carving an unstoppable swath by the load class, Oliveira collected key victories over Jared Gordon, Kevin Lee and Tony Ferguson to earn his first pay-per-view primary occasion at UFC 262, the place he contended for his first light-weight championship reverse one other Bellator icon in Michael Chandler. The belt had been vacated after its earlier holder, Khabib Nurmagomedov, retired the next yr.
Debuting within the firm 4 months prior at UFC 257, Chandler stamped his place as a contender by starching fan-favorite striker Dan Hooker within the first spherical. Earlier than his bounce to the UFC, Chandler was already considered a embellished light-weight competitor after having received the Bellator 155-lb title on two totally different events. He additionally had notched wins over world-class opposition like Patricky Pitbull, Benson Henderson, Brent Primus and Eddie Alvarez.
Though it appeared like Oliveira was going to be stopped within the first spherical by strikes, the Brazilian recovered in time and made it to the second after surviving a terrifying onslaught from the American. Noticeably fatigued in the beginning of the second, Chandler simply fell prey to a masterfully positioned left hook from his opponent, who despatched him crashing to the canvas. Pouncing on his wounded foe, “do Bronxs” pinned Chandler up towards the cage, dropping him once more with punches earlier than the battle was known as off, making Oliveira the brand new UFC Light-weight Champion.
Charles Oliveira’s Reign and Downfall
Keen to start his time as champion, Charles Oliveira leapt again into motion that subsequent December at UFC 269, locking horns with the most effective strikers within the group, Dustin Poirier. Laying declare to the interim 155-lb strap within the not-so-distant previous, Poirier was widely-viewed as a supreme menace to the Brazilian. Over the past six years earlier than his assembly with Oliveira, “The Diamond” had solely been overwhelmed by the aforementioned Nurmagomedov. In that point span, the American had collected the scalps of varied juggernauts like Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway and Conor McGregor twice.
Though he was compromised from an enormous punch by Poirier within the early phases of the scrap, Charles Oliveira quickly started to take over together with his superior grappling, sporting down the challenger with ground-and-pound. It was within the third that the champion sealed Poirier’s destiny by leaping to his again and securing the rear-naked choke end, notching his first title protection.
For his second look because the champion, Charles Oliveira subsequent got here to blows with respected hard-puncher Justin Gaethje. Coming off a Combat of the 12 months bout with Chandler, Gaethje had garnered a well-earned popularity for his bodily power and rise up prowess, defeating putting consultants Edson Barboza, Donald Cerrone and Tony Ferguson by knockout.
Nevertheless, UFC icon Charles Oliveira ended up lacking weight for what was going to be his second protection, weighing in at simply half a pound off the championship restrict for the light-weight class, forcing the UFC to strip him of the belt. Though the match solely lasted a single spherical, each males got here out for blood proper from the get-go, with Gaethje dropping and bloodying Oliveira within the first couple of minutes.
Delivering his personal thunderous blow, the Brazilian floored Gaethje, instantly grabbing maintain of him and locking in a decent rear-naked choke to power the faucet.
Whereas he might have misplaced his championship to the scales, UFC icon Charles Oliveira nonetheless proved he was the apex of the light-weight division with one other spotlight reel stoppage. This put the South American right into a fourth pay-per-view headlining tilt at UFC 280, the place he got here face-to-face with rising Russian star Islam Makhachev.
Charles Oliveira Confronted Robust Check in Islam Makhachev
Undefeated in nearly a decade, Makhachev had loved a considerable profitable streak 10-bout win streak. Making himself one of many weight class’s boogeymen, the Dagestan native secured his first title shot with triumphs over Drew Dober, Thiago Moisés, Dan Hooker and King Inexperienced.
Being placed on the defensive immediately, a notably gun-shy Charles Oliveira appeared unable to mount any form of significant resistance as a result of wonderful kickboxing and wrestling of Makhachev. Within the second spherical, the Russian rocked the Brazilian with a tough counter hook, leaving Oliveira open for a deep arm triangle choke that pressured the faucet, handing the previous champion his first defeat in 5 years.
Charles Oliveira’s Run Continues and Present Standing
Falling wanting the light-weight throne after a devastating setback to Makhachev, Charles Oliveira accepted his first non-championship contest since 2020 at UFC 289, taking out Beneil Dariush, who had received his final eight in a row. Over the subsequent yr, “do Bronxs” would endeavor to reenter the title dialog, dropping a break up choice to up-and-coming contender Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300 and overcoming Chandler in a rematch later that November at UFC 309. The victory over the latter was sufficient to nab Oliveira his alternative to contend for the strap at UFC 317, setting himself up for a superfight with earlier featherweight gold commonplace, Ilia Topuria.
Becoming a member of the UFC in 2020, Topuria had come to prominence for his spectacular ending skill, stopping 145-lb standouts like Damon Jackson, Ryan Corridor and Bryce Mitchell, handing the latter his first defeat as knowledgeable.
“El Matador” then secured his place in blended martial arts historical past by each knocking out then champion Alexander Volkanovski, handing “The Nice” his first loss at 145-lb, and Max Holloway, turning into the one man to greatest “Blessed” by strikes. Topuria would vacate the throne in 2025 to pursue a second strap at light-weight, main him on crash course with the equally hard-hitting Oliveira.
Getting busted up instantly by the sharp punches of the Spaniard, Oliveira tried to wrap up Topuria in a Jiu-Jitsu trade, attacking the European’s foot whereas in search of a submission. The man black belt was in a position to escape nevertheless, and, after closing the gap on his longer opponent, severed Oliveira’s consciousness with a thudding proper hook, leaving the Brazilian mendacity helpless on the bottom to the astonishment of the world.
Nonetheless trying to find his place on the prime of the division, Charles Oliveira hopes for a spectacular comeback over Gamrot in his residence nation. Though he can have the benefit within the putting and Jiu-Jitsu division, the elite-level wrestling of the Pole has bested most of the light-weight class’s best opponents. Given his superior age as a fight sports activities athlete, Oliveira now finds his again to the wall, as another loss might probably show to be the top of Charles Oliveira’s championship ambitions.
