Charles Oliveira, the former UFC Lightweight Champion and one of the most electrifying fighters in MMA history, is laser-focused on reclaiming gold. The Brazilian superstar recently flew from São Paulo to Inglewood, California, with a mission: to witness firsthand who might stand in his way of redemption. With Islam Makhachev defending his 155-pound title in record-breaking fashion at UFC 311, Oliveira's fire for vengeance has been reignited.
But the night wasn’t without surprises. Originally slated as a battle between Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan, the bout took a dramatic twist when Tsarukyan was sidelined due to back issues. Enter Renato Moicano, who stepped up on short notice but succumbed to Makhachev’s relentless grappling in a first-round submission. “We were rooting for Moicano as a fellow Brazilian,” Oliveira admitted. “But this was a tough ask. He trained for a different opponent, and fighting for the championship is a completely different beast. Islam did what he does best: dominate.”
For Oliveira, this isn’t just about revenge—it’s about destiny. He and Makhachev last clashed at UFC 280 in October 2022, where the Russian secured a second-round submission victory to claim the vacant lightweight belt. Since then, Oliveira has been relentless in his pursuit of excellence. He knocked out Beneil Dariush in spectacular fashion, battled Tsarukyan to a razor-thin decision at UFC 300, and delivered a show-stealing performance against Michael Chandler at UFC 309.
“After my fight with Chandler, I asked to be the backup for this event,” Oliveira revealed. “The UFC told me to rest, but I’m not here to rest—I’m here to reclaim my belt. When Tsarukyan was ruled out, people asked if I’d step in. But I won’t fight unless I’m 100% ready. This isn’t about money. It’s about fulfilling my dream of bringing that belt back to Brazil.”
While his top priority remains a rematch with Makhachev, Oliveira has a backup plan that’s equally tantalizing. If Makhachev doesn’t return to action soon, Oliveira is eyeing none other than Max Holloway—the reigning BMF champion. The two share unfinished business dating back to 2015, when their fight ended prematurely due to an esophagus injury that left Oliveira unable to continue. Now, he wants to settle the score.
“Max is the BMF champ, the toughest of the tough,” Oliveira said. “I’m tough too. I hold countless UFC records. The fans deserve to see us go to war. That’s a fight that would blow the roof off any arena.”
Holloway, a featherweight legend, claimed the BMF title at UFC 300 with a jaw-dropping knockout of Justin Gaethje. However, he’s coming off a heartbreaking KO loss to Ilia Topuria, marking the first knockout defeat of his illustrious career. Despite this, Oliveira believes the timing is perfect for a showdown.
“Max mentioned the rematch himself,” Oliveira said with a smile. “We started something back then, but it wasn’t a real fight. Now, it’s time to finish what we started. Imagine the fireworks: the BMF champ versus the UFC’s submission king. Let’s make history.”
Whether it’s Makhachev, Holloway, or anyone else brave enough to stand across from him, Charles Oliveira’s message is clear: he’s coming back for what’s his. And when “Do Bronx” steps into the Octagon, the world knows one thing for certain—magic is about to happen.