Charles Oliveira is one scary man. A Brazilian blended martial artist and the previous Light-weight Champion of the Final Preventing Championship (UFC), he’s greatest recognized for his world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu, holding the file for many submission wins in UFC historical past at 16.
Oliveira not too long ago headlined UFC 280, the place he squared up in opposition to Russian fighter Islam Makhachev to try to regain his light-weight belt again, in probably the most hyped occasions of the yr. However, it wasn’t to be, as Makhachev got here out victorious.
So, who’s Charles Oliveira? Learn on as DMARGE tells you every part you want to know in regards to the Brazilian fighter.
On this Charles Oliveira information…
Charles Oliveira Fast Info
Title: Charles Oliveira da Silva
Age: 33
DoB: 17 October 1989
Nationality: Brazilian
Birthplace: Guaruja, São Paolo, Brazil
Top: 5 toes 10 inches / 178 cm
Weight: 155 lbs / 70.6 kg – fights in light-weight division
Attain: 74 inches / 188 cm
Nickname: “do Bronx”
File: 33 wins – 8 losses – 1 no contest
Instagram: @charlesdobronxs – 4.9 million followers
Who’s Charles Oliveira?
He has fought within the UFC for over 12 years, making his debut again in 2010. Throughout that point, he has racked up probably the most finishes of any fighter in UFC historical past at 19.
A Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist, he significantly adept at making folks faucet out, amassing 16 submission victories within the promotion, a UFC file.
He first gained the UFC light-weight Championship again in 2019. Though he has by no means formally misplaced to anybody since then, he had the belt stripped in Might 2022 at UFC 274 in opposition to Justin Gaethje for lacking weight.
Formative years
Charles Oliveira was on 17 October 1989 in Guaruja, São Paolo, Brazil. He grew in a poverty within the Brazilian capital’s favelas. Charles’ nickname – “do Bronx” – is in reference to his poor background, the title stemming from the impoverished Bronx space in New York Metropolis.
Oliveira was very sick as a toddler, having been recognized with rheumatic fever and a coronary heart murmur, nearly rendering him unable to stroll. He additionally has very poor eyesight, which was solely corrected six months in the past. It’s a miracle he’s even been capable of battle this lengthy with out his glasses!
As a consequence of his poor background, he was launched to the workforce early, serving to his mom promote cheese salads from a trailer. It was right here, aged 12, that he made buddies with youngsters who educated jiu-jitsu and was invited to coach with them.
Initially, his household couldn’t afford the schooling, however the teacher let Charles prepare on a scholarship standing; and we’re very grateful that he did.
Oliveira started coaching with jiu-jitsu coach Roger Coehlo, and confirmed his potential early, profitable his first main title as a white belt in 2003. He continued to win tournaments, profitable 16 medals in main tournaments in 2006 alone.
He was awarded his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in 2010, aged solely 21.
MMA profession
He started coaching MMA round this time, making his skilled debut in 2008. On a number of events he fought, and beat, a number of folks on the identical night time. Amassing a file of 12 wins and nil losses he was signed to the UFC in 2010.
Beginning his MMA profession so younger – the common age of fighters in 2010 was round 28 – the early days of his profession have been a mix of wins and losses.
Though beginning his profession within the light-weight division (155lbs), from 2012 to 2017 he fought within the featherweight division (145lbs). Nonetheless, throughout this time interval, he had hassle making the featherweight restrict, lacking weight 4 occasions.
His profession actually modified round when he got here again as much as light-weight. From 2 December 2017 till 22 October 2023 Oliveira was unbeaten, racking up a loopy 11-fight win streak in probably the most aggressive divisions within the UFC.
UFC Light-weight Champion
In 2021, on the again of defeating former Interim Light-weight Champion and UFC fan-favourite Tony Ferguson, Oliveira was provided a UFC light-weight title shot in opposition to former Bellator Light-weight champion Michael Chandler at UFC 262.
The light-weight belt had been held by Russian smashing machine Khabib Nurmagomedov earlier than he retired, vacating the belt.
Regardless of nearly being knocked out by Chandler within the first spherical, Oliveira rallied within the second, knocking the American down and ending the battle by technical knockout (TKO).
His subsequent two fights, in opposition to Dustin Poirer and Justin Gaethje led to a really comparable style. Regardless of being knocked down within the first spherical, Charles discovered a method to win, submitting each fighters by rear-naked choke.
Nonetheless, within the battle in opposition to Justin Gaethje, Charles as soon as once more missed weight, weighing 0.5lbs over the 155lb Light-weight Championship restrict. Charles Oliveira was stripped of his belt, making him ineligible to win the title even when he received. Nicknamed “scale gate”, this proved to be controversial, as different fighters on the cardboard additionally reported points with the scales being off.
Charles Olivera’s hair
Charles Oliveira’s hair has not all the time been the platinum blond which has now develop into synonymous with the Brazilian fighter.
In actual fact, he solely began dying in 2020, first beginning to carry out the development in his battle in opposition to Kevin Lee.
Since then, each he and his teaching workers and workforce have died their hair for each single battle he has taken half in. The ritual might, or might not, have been impressed by the Romanian football team at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
Talking on the development Olivera mentioned:
“It sounds loopy, however I solely do it on battle week to journey, on battle week I do it. Then the followers begin saying “You continue to didn’t dye your hair? The place’s the Saiyan? It’s not going to work out if you don’t.”
Whether or not or not it provides Charles Olivera Goku-like tremendous Saiyan powers on battle night time, it nonetheless appears to be like fairly cool.
Charles Olivera’s spouse
Olivera has been married to fellow Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner Talita Roberta Pereira. She can be from Guaruja and the pair have been married since 2014. The couple nonetheless close to the identical neighbourhood they grew up in.
In a loving gesture, Oliveira by no means forgets to provide his spouse a shoutout in his post-fight interviews. They’ve a toddler collectively, Tayla, born in 2017.
Charles Olivera’s tattoos
Charles Olivera additionally has a number of tattoos throughout his physique.
He has a number of horse tattoos on his arms, stemming from his love for the animal and for harness racing. Different animal tattoos Oliveira has inked on his physique embody a lion, elephant and gorilla.
As is the development with some MMA fighters, Charles additionally has his surname “O-L-I-V-E-I-R-A” tattooed in massive letters throughout his again. A tattoo of his daughter Tayla sits on his left pec.
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