Just four months after suffering the most painful knockout of his career, Charles Oliveira achieved a triumphant return in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday. 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. This victory came 105 days after Oliveira was knocked out in a lightweight title fight by Ilia Topuria. Many in the sports world feared that Oliveira would return too soon to headline his first appearance in his home country, Brazil, since 2020, but there seemed to be no after-effects from the defeat.
The finish enhanced Oliveira’s already worthy legacy for the Hall of Fame. He extended his two UFC records in finishes (21) and submissions (17). He tied with Neil Magny for the most wins in UFC history with 24, surpassed only by 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. Holloway defeated Oliveira in a featherweight fight that had a strange ending, when Oliveira fell to the canvas due to what he later described as an esophageal injury.I’m trying to hold back the tears right now. This is for you, the Brazilian fans. This isn’t about money, fame, or status. This is for Brazil.
Charles Oliveira
It was a characteristic performance from Oliveira from the first round. He pressured Gamrot with his usual 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 the position and take Gamrot’s back. The two lightweights exchanged blows in the second round until Oliveira secured a bodylock and lifted Gamrot off the ground. Oliveira eventually took Gamrot’s back and applied the choke. It was a moment that Oliveira had essentially been waiting for 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 number 4 lightweight in the UFC rankings before the victory. Gamrot entered 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.Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway, BMF. Let’s make this happen.
Charles Oliveira
