Charles Oliveira lost his shot at the UFC lightweight championship 111 days ago.
Ever since that defeat, which occurred against Islam Makhachev in October at UFC 280, Oliveira has been following through on his vow to reattain the title.
“A hurt lion is still a lion,” says Oliveira, speaking through a translator. “He will continue hunting. That is what I am doing. I will keep working to get the belt back. I want it like I’ve never had it before.”
Oliveira was stripped of the title last May when he failed to make weight before his title defense against Justin Gaethje, but that setback did not deter him. He put on a jiu-jitsu clinic against Gaethje at UFC 274, applying his rare blend of power and technique to win by submission in the opening round.
The belt remained vacant leading up to Oliveira’s bout against Makhachev at 280. That fight unfolded in a stunning manner. After 11 dominant wins in a row, Oliveira suffered defeat when Makhachev forced him to submit in the second round.
“It wasn’t my night,” Oliveira says. “He was better than I was.”
Following the loss, Oliveira refused to drown in negativity. He surrounded himself with positive influences, and returned to his passion away from the cage—riding his horses.
“My horses only wanted my affection,” Oliveira says. “They did not care that I was not champion. And I spent time with my family, and my friends and my daughter. I took that time for myself.”
Significant news just broke out of the lightweight division when it was announced that Conor McGregor will be returning to fight Michael Chandler. While Oliveira would have been open to that matchup, he says it was never a real possibility.
“Let’s forget about Conor,” says Oliveira. “He picks his fights.”
Currently in Perth, Australia, the primary focus for Oliveira is the belt. He will sit cageside on Saturday at UFC 284, and shared his insight on Makhachev's title defense against Alexander Volkanovski.
“It’s all about the style of matchup,” Oliveira says. “Islam will try to take it to the ground. Volkankovski will try to keep the fight standing. It is a style fight, and whoever’s style is predominant will win.”
Oliveira struggled to believe that Makhachev would underestimate Volkanovski, instead believing it will be a competitive bout.
“Our sport is ungrateful,” Oliveira says. “You can’t play around. The sport will make him pay for it if he does, but I don’t think he is, especially in his first title defense.”
Even without the belt, Oliveira has continued to conduct himself with the grace and poise of a champion. Yet it is that piece of gold driving him to new lengths and extremes in his training.
Oliveira has not stepped back into the Octagon since the loss against Makhachev. Considering he will be at 284, it would make sense to have his next fight announced during the pay-per-view—and he would be particularly pleased if it is against whomever emerges with the belt.
“I’m here,” Oliveira says. “Anything can happen. I’m working to become champion again.”
Rodriguez, Emmett Eye Interim Featherweight Belt
Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett will fight for the right to be called interim featherweight champion at UFC 284.
For both fighters, it would mark a significant achievement. And with Volkanovski’s future in the featherweight division anything but a certainty, a win on Saturday will place either Rodriguez or Emmett at the forefront of the division.
“When I started fighting in 2006, I wanted to fight for the UFC and I wanted to become champion,” says Emmett (18-2), who defeated Calvin Kattar in a tightly contested split decision last June to put himself in this spot. “People don’t understand how badly I want to be world champion. We’re one win away from that, and then we’ll go after the undisputed title. But first we have to beat Yair.”
Explosive and elusive, Rodriguez (14-3, 1 NC) will be a tough matchup. While Emmett is relentless with his power, Rodriguez is extremely versatile–and possesses far more ways to win this fight.
“He can win this fight by hitting me with one hard punch,” Rodriguez says. “We’ll see who can use their skills better. He’s wanted to be a champion for a long time, just like me. I’ve wanted this opportunity for almost 10 years. It’s going to be a war.”
Rodriguez is coming off a TKO win against Brian Ortega this past summer, which ended when Ortega suffered a shoulder injury.
“It’s disappointing that people thought the arm of Brian Ortega fell to the ground by itself,” says Rodriguez. “I know what I did. I know what I’m capable of doing, and there was an action to lead to that Brian Ortega injury.”
The future of the featherweight division could be at stake on Saturday. Both Emmett and Rodriguez want to be the one who leads it.
“I am obsessed with winning this title,” says Emmett. “With me, I only need one shot. I’m going to do what I do best, and that’s win.”
“I’m on the cliff, looking at the ocean, and I’m ready to jump,” says Rodriguez. “Once I hit the water, we’ll see what I do from there.”
The Pick ‘Em Section:
UFC 284 lightweight title bout: Islam Makhachev (c) vs. Alexander Volkanovski
Pick: Alexander Volkanovski
UFC 284 interim featherweight title bout: Yair Rodriguez vs. Josh Emmett
Pick: Yair Rodriguez
UFC 284 welterweight bout: Randy Brown vs. Jack Della Maddalena
Pick: Jack Della Maddalena
UFC 284 heavyweight bout: Justin Tafa vs. Parker Porter
Pick: Justin Tafa
UFC 284 light heavyweight bout: Jimmy Crute vs. Alonzo Menifield
Pick: Alonzo Menifield
Last week: 4-1
2023 record: 7-8
