After suffering the toughest knockout of his career less than four months ago, Charles Oliveira made a big comeback in his country, Brazil, on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro. 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 at the Farmasi Arena. The victory came just 105 days after Oliveira was knocked out in a lightweight title fight by Ilia Topuria. Many in the sport feared that 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 expands Oliveira’s legacy, already worthy of the Hall of Fame. He extended his UFC records for finishes (21) and submissions (17). 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 lightweight ranked Max Holloway. The two faced each other more than a decade ago, in 2015. Holloway defeated Oliveira in a featherweight bout that had a strange ending, when Oliveira fell to the canvas due to what he later described as an esophageal injury.It was a characteristic performance from Oliveira from the start. He pursued Gamrot with his high-volume Muay Thai style. Gamrot, who replaced Rafael Fiziev on short notice, took Oliveira down in the first half of the first round, but Oliveira used the threat of an omoplata to reverse position and take Gamrot’s back.Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway, BMF. Let’s make this happen.
Charles OliveiraThe two lightweights exchanged blows in the second round until Oliveira managed a body lock and lifted Gamrot off the ground. Oliveira eventually took Gamrot’s back and applied the choke. It was a moment that Oliveira had been waiting for essentially since March 2020, when he headlined an event in Brazil in an empty stadium due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He then won the UFC championship in 2021, but never had the opportunity to defend his belt in Brazil.
Oliveira was already the UFC’s number 4 lightweight before the victory. Gamrot came in at number 8. Holloway (27-8) is coming off a five-round decision over Dustin Poirier in July, after which Holloway said he would likely miss the rest of 2025 due to a right hand injury.
