What’s Left in the Tank for a 35-Year-Old Brazilian Fighter?

Charles Oliveira is looking to make a statement win in his upcoming fight against Mateusz Gamrot. This fight is scheduled for October 11th and will be held in Rio, Brazil, which is Oliveira’s home country. This is his first fight back in Brazil since March of 2020. He was originally scheduled to fight Rafael Fiziev, but that fight was cancelled due to injury. This is shaping up to be a very exciting fight with some much-needed home support for Oliveira as he has experienced significant ups and downs recently in his career. 

Charles Oliveira is coming off a tough first-round knockout loss to Ilia Topuria back in June of this year at UFC 317. Many thought Charles had reached a vulnerable spot in his career, and it would be tough for him to maintain his status as one of the elite Lightweight Division fighters. Along with his three wins and three losses in his last six fights, he will be looking for a momentum restart with a win against Gamrot. Gamrot coming in on somewhat short notice forced Oliveira to pivot his entire game plan. His original opponent, Fiziev, was known for his kickboxing, while Gamrot is a dangerous grappler. He has a lot of different skills on the mat, along with great toughness and momentum on his side. He is coming into the fight 4-1 in his last five fights, including wins over Rafael Dos Anjos and Rafael Fiziev. Oliveira has an incredible submission offense along with elite striking, which will combat Gamrot’s power well. 

A win for Oliveira in this fight will be a pivotal moment in his career. The Brazilian fighter is still ranked high in the Lightweight Division, sitting at the fourth spot, but more losses for Oliveira make that spot less secure. This is a must-win for him to remain as one of the elite fighters in the division, especially if he is searching for future title contention. While many critics believe he may have passed his peak, Oliveira is looking to prove them wrong. He will definitely feel the energy from his home crowd and use that to fuel his confidence.