In a triumphant return to his country, Charles Oliveira proved his worth in the octagon, just four months after suffering the toughest knockout of his career. Oliveira (36-11) submitted Mateusz Gamrot (25-4) with a rear-naked choke at 2:48 of the second round in the main event of UFC Fight Night held at the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro. This victory comes just 105 days after Oliveira was knocked out in a lightweight title fight by Ilia Topuria. Many in the sports world feared Oliveira was returning too soon to headline his first appearance in his home country since 2020, but there appeared to be no after-effects from the defeat.
I’m trying to hold back the tears right now. This is for you, the Brazilian fans. This is not about money, fame, or status. This is for Brazil.
Charles OliveiraThis triumph further solidifies Oliveira’s legacy, worthy of a place in the Hall of Fame. He extended his UFC records for finishes (21) and submissions (17). In addition, he tied Neil Magny for the most wins in UFC history, with 24, only behind Jim Miller’s 27. Immediately after the victory, Oliveira reiterated his proposal to face the BMF champion and ranked lightweight Max Holloway. The two faced each other more than a decade ago, in 2015, where Holloway defeated Oliveira in a featherweight bout. Oliveira’s performance was characteristic from the start, pressuring Gamrot with his high-volume Muay Thai style. Gamrot, who replaced Rafael Fiziev with little notice, managed a takedown in the first round, but Oliveira employed the threat of an omoplata to reverse the position and take Gamrot’s back. In the second round, both lightweights exchanged blows until Oliveira managed a body grip and lifted Gamrot. Finally, Oliveira took Gamrot’s back and applied the choke.This moment was something Oliveira had been waiting for since March 2020, when he headlined an event in Brazil in an empty stadium due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, he won the UFC championship in 2021, but never had the opportunity to defend his belt in Brazil.
Before this victory, Oliveira was already ranked number 4 in the UFC lightweight rankings. Gamrot, for his part, was in the number 8 position. Holloway (27-8) comes from a decision over Dustin Poirier in July, after which Holloway announced that he would probably take the rest of 2025 off due to a right hand injury.
