Charles Oliveira wants two things to be clear. One, he still considers himself champion – and two, he was as surprised as everyone else when he missed weight Friday at the UFC 274 official weigh-ins.
Oliveira, who came in one-half-pound over the championship lightweight limit ahead of his main event scheduled for Saturday against Justin Gaethje, claims to have made weight Thursday night. According to Oliveira, without eating or drinking, he somehow missed weight after hours more of non-nutrition.
“The champion has a name. His name is Charles Oliveira,” Oliveira said with the use of an interpreter on the ESPN ceremonial weigh-in broadcast. “The story is that I went up to my room. I made weight on the UFC scale on Thursday night. I go up to my room (and) didn’t consume anything. No water, no food, no anything. I swear to God. In the name of my daughter, the most sacred thing in my life. I went to bed. I wake up the following day and it’s a pound over.
