Five Charles Oliveira Fights To Watch Before UFC 289
“Do Bronx” Always Brings The Action. Check Out Some Of His Best Work Before He Fights Beneil Dariush In Vancouver
Nobody does it like Charles Oliveira.
UFC’s all-time leader in finishes is a submission fiend, but over the course of his lengthy career, he picked up more than a handful of knockouts, as well. After a winding journey, Oliveira put together a wicked-impressive eight-fight win streak to earn a crack at the lightweight belt, and from May 2021 to May 2022, Oliveira provided one of the most impressive stretches in recent memory.
As he tries to climb back to championship status at UFC 289: Nunes vs Aldana, take a look at some of the best from “Do Bronx:”
Vs Michael Chandler
Charles Oliveira of Brazil punches Michael Chandler in their UFC lightweight championship bout at Toyota Center on May 15, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)
When Oliveira and Chandler fought for the vacant lightweight belt, many felt the impending trilogy fight between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor was the “real” title fight, but neither man cared as they threw down for an epic five minutes and 19 seconds.
Chandler, in his second UFC bout, brought the fireworks as usual and rattled Oliveira, but where a younger Oliveira might’ve folded, the Brazilian showed his championship resolve early in round two to capture gold.
Vs Dustin Poirier
Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira of Brazil shake hands before their UFC lightweight championship bout during the UFC 269 on December 11, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
For as celebrated a moment as Oliveira’s title victory was, there remained the question of defending it for the first time against Poirier, who many tabbed as an uncrowned champion.
Despite Poirier getting his shots in early, Oliveira stayed steady and steadily took the fight away from “The Diamond” before doing what he does best in the third round.
Vs Justin Gaethje
Charles Oliveira of Brazil punches Justin Gaethje in the UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC 274 event at Footprint Center on May 07, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Despite a controversial weight miss that forced him to vacate the title, Oliveira was unshaken as he stepped into the Octagon opposite “The Highlight” in Gaethje’s backyard of Phoenix. While Gaethje got out of the gates quickly, Oliveira fought like a man possessed and delivered yet another thrilling performance, as well as an electric Octagon interview.
Vs Kevin Lee
Charles Oliveira of Brazil punches Kevin Lee in their lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event on March 14, 2020 in Brasilia, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Zuffa LLC)
Before he became Charles The Champion, Oliveira headlined UFC’s first crowdless card in Brasilia in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fighting the former interim title challenger Lee, Oliveira fought a composed fight before snatching a breathtakingly quick submission win.
Vs Jared Gordon
Charles Oliveira of Brazil punches Jared Gordon in their lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Ibirapuera Gymnasium on November 16, 2019 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Alexandre Schneider/Zuffa LLC)
It’s easy to forget the pure power Oliveira possesses when striking, but then you look at a fight against someone with an iron chin, and you are quickly reminded. Against Gordon, Oliveira wasted no time at all before stopping the veteran.
