Charles Oliveira is back in business, and he’s not wasting any time chasing his next big fight. The Brazilian superstar just delivered a spectacular performance at UFC Rio, submitting Mateusz Gamrot in the second round to get back on track after suffering the first knockout loss of his career. But instead of taking a breather, Oliveira immediately set his sights on something special: a rematch with Max Holloway for the BMF title.
The former lightweight champion looked absolutely dominant in front of his home crowd at the Farmasi Arena. He became the first fighter ever to finish Gamrot inside the distance, locking up a nasty rear-naked choke that had the Brazilian fans going absolutely wild. It was vintage Charles Oliveira, showing exactly why he holds the UFC records for most submissions and most finishes in promotional history. The win pushed his Brazilian fight record to a perfect mark and reminded everyone why he’s considered one of the most dangerous grapplers the sport has ever seen.
Right after getting his hand raised, Oliveira grabbed the microphone and made his intentions crystal clear. He looked directly at UFC brass and called out Hunter Campbell, the company’s chief business officer. His message was simple and direct. He wants Max Holloway next, and he wants it for the BMF title.
“Hey Hunter, Charles Oliveira vs. Max Holloway. BMF [title]. Let’s make it happen.”
These two fighters share a complicated history that goes back to August 2015. They met in the octagon once before, and Holloway needed just 99 seconds to finish Oliveira. The Brazilian suffered an injury during that brief encounter. This led to a quick stoppage that’s clearly stuck with him all these years.
Now, nearly ten years later and with both men at completely different stages of their careers, Oliveira sees an opportunity for redemption. Holloway currently holds the BMF belt after successfully defending it against Dustin Poirier at UFC 318 back in July. If Oliveira could capture that title, he would become only the second undisputed champion in history to hold the symbolic strap.
Holloway didn’t take long to respond to Oliveira’s challenge, and his answer carried some serious bite. The BMF champion acknowledged their shared history but wasn’t buying Oliveira’s injury excuse from their first meeting. While on his Kick stream. Holloway pointed out that Oliveira keeps blaming their initial fight on some kind of injury, and now they can figure it out properly.
“Me and him have a history. He is blaming it (loss) on some kind of injury. I guess we get to figure it out now.”
Holloway seems ready to run it back and prove their first encounter wasn’t a fluke. The stage is set for what could be an absolute barnburner. Fans have got Oliveira’s submission wizardry against Holloway’s elite striking and legendary toughness. Both fighters are coming off wins and both have something to prove!
(Image Credit: Etzel Espinosa – Imagn Images)
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