Introduction to Charles Oliveira
Charles Oliveira da Silva is a highly accomplished Brazilian mixed martial artist, widely recognized for his exceptional skills as a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner. Born on October 17, 1989, in Brazil, Oliveira began his martial arts journey at a young age, and by the time he was a teenager, he had already won numerous Brazilian jiu-jitsu championships.
In 2007, Oliveira decided to pursue a career in MMA, and his background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu made him a formidable competitor in the sport. He quickly rose through the ranks, showcasing his impressive grappling and striking abilities, and gained a reputation as one of the most well-rounded fighters in the game.
Currently, Oliveira competes in the UFC’s Lightweight division, where he has achieved tremendous success. He is a former UFC Lightweight Champion and holds multiple records in the organization. Notably, Oliveira has the most submission wins in UFC history, with 16, and the most finishes at 19, demonstrating his dominance in the sport.
As of August 22, 2022, Oliveira is ranked as the #1 contender in the UFC Lightweight rankings, a testament to his skill and dedication to the sport. In addition, as of March 7, 2023, he is ranked #9 in the UFC’s men’s pound-for-pound rankings, a recognition of his exceptional talent and success as a professional mixed martial artist.
Early Life of Charles Oliveira
Charles Oliveira da Silva’s journey to becoming a world-class mixed martial artist is one that is both inspiring and remarkable. Born in a poor family in the favela of Vicente de Carvalho in the tourist town Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil, Oliveira faced numerous challenges in his early life.
Initially, Charles had dreams of becoming a professional football player. However, at the tender age of 7, he started experiencing regular pains in his body and had difficulty walking, sometimes even finding it impossible to move his legs. Charles was later diagnosed with rheumatic fever and heart murmur, which severely affected his ankle. The medic who attended to him informed his family that he could become paralyzed. As a result of his condition, he was frequently bedridden and unable to participate in any physical activities.
Despite all the obstacles he faced, Oliveira’s parents were determined to put him in sports programs, hoping it would aid in his recovery. After two years, Charles started to make progress, and it was then that he was introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu by a neighbor named Paulo. At the age of 12, he began training under Roger Coelho. Although his family had a very low income, the BJJ gym’s coach offered classes for free as part of a social program. His family helped fund his training by selling street snacks and discarded cardboard, making every sacrifice to support his passion for martial arts.
Sadly, when Charles was 14, Paulo, the man who introduced him to jiu-jitsu, died caught in the crossfire of a shootout in Vicente de Carvalho. Despite the loss of his mentor, Charles remained committed to his training, inspired to continue in honor of Paulo’s legacy.
Through hard work, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of his dreams, Charles Oliveira da Silva has become one of the most accomplished mixed martial artists in the world, achieving feats that many thought were impossible. His journey serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and the incredible resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Charles Oliveira career in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Charles Oliveira da Silva’s impressive Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills quickly became apparent as he began competing in tournaments from a young age. In 2003, as a white belt, he won his first championship at the São Paulo State Championship in the Junior Division, marking the beginning of his successful jiu-jitsu career.
Oliveira’s talent and dedication continued to shine as he went on to win the São Paulo championship again in 2004, followed by the Copa Nação Jiu-Jitsu in 2005. The following year, in 2006, he won an impressive total of 16 medals across various competitions, cementing his status as one of the most promising young jiu-jitsu athletes in Brazil.
However, despite his success in the world of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Oliveira started to steer his career towards mixed martial arts in 2007. He recognized the opportunity to utilize his jiu-jitsu skills in a new arena, and he began training to become a professional mixed martial artist.
Oliveira’s hard work and dedication paid off, and he soon began making waves in the MMA world. In 2010, he was awarded his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Ericson Cardoso and Jorge “Macaco” Patino, a significant achievement that marked his progression as a martial artist.
Since then, Oliveira has continued to showcase his exceptional grappling skills in the octagon, becoming one of the most dominant submission specialists in the UFC’s history. His success in both Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA has solidified his position as one of the most talented martial artists to come out of Brazil in recent years.
Charles Oliveira Career in Mixed martial arts
Early Career
Oliveira kicked off his professional MMA career in 2007 in Brazil, amassing a flawless record of 12-0, including six knockouts and five submissions. On three separate occasions, Oliveira displayed his fighting prowess by securing multiple wins on the same night.
In his amateur debut at the Circuito Nacional de Vale-Tudo Amador, Oliveira fought against Rui Machado and earned a victory by submitting him with an armbar in just 15 seconds of the first round.
In March 2008, Oliveira made his professional debut at Predator Fight Championship, the same promotion where his mentor Jorge Patino had previously fought. He participated in the Welterweight Grand Prix tournament, a single-elimination event, similar to the Grand Prix tournaments held by the now-defunct Pride FC. The tournament format required competitors to fight three times in a single night to be crowned the champion. Oliveira’s first opponent in the tournament was Jackson Pontes, whom he defeated via rear-naked choke submission in the first round, advancing him to the second stage. In the second stage, he faced Viscardi Andrade, whom he defeated via TKO with punches, earning him a spot in the final. Oliveira won the tournament after defeating Diego Braga in the final round via TKO with punches.
In December 2008, Oliveira moved up to lightweight and made his debut in the Kawai Arena promotion, where he defeated future UFC fighter Mehdi Baghdad. He then participated in another tournament at Korea Fight, where he knocked out Daniel Fernandes and secured a TKO victory over Eliene Silva.
Over the next few months, Oliveira demonstrated his grappling prowess by submitting three opponents in a row, including Bellator veteran Alexandre Bezerra, and won a split decision against Eduardo Pachu.
In February 2010, Oliveira once again fought twice in one night, first submitting Rosenildo Rocha via rear-naked choke in the first round before knocking out Diego Bataglia with a slam to earn himself two victories.
Oliveira in Ultimate Fighting Championship
Debut and First Fights
After being named the third-best Brazilian prospect in 2010, Oliveira signed up for UFC and made his debut against Darren Elkins. The fight was initially scheduled for The Ultimate Fighter, but due to visa issues, it was rescheduled for UFC Live. Oliveira won the fight via submission in the first round, earning him the Submission of the Night award. Oliveira then fought Efrain Escudero, defeating him in the third round via standing rear-naked choke, earning him his second Submission of the Night award.
First Defeat and Controversial No Contest
Oliveira’s winning streak came to a halt when he fought Jim Miller and was submitted via kneebar in the first round at UFC 124. In his next fight against Nik Lentz, he hit Lentz with an illegal knee, which was unnoticed by the referee, and he submitted Lentz via rear-naked choke. The result was overturned by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission, and it was declared a no contest.
Further Fights and Successes
In 2011, Oliveira fought and lost against Donald Cerrone and planned to drop down to the featherweight division. He won his next fight against Eric Wisely via reverse calf slicer submission, making history as the first fighter to use this technique in the UFC. Oliveira then defeated Jonathan Brookins via second-round anaconda choke.
Oliveira faced Cub Swanson and lost via KO in the first round at UFC 152. In 2013, Oliveira fought Frankie Edgar and lost via unanimous decision, but both fighters earned Fight of the Night honors. Oliveira won his next two fights against Andy Ogle and Hatsu Hioki, earning Performance of the Night bonuses for both fights.
Oliveira faced Nik Lentz in a rematch, which he won via guillotine choke submission in the third round, earning him his third Performance of the Night and third Fight of the Night bonuses. In his next fight against Max Holloway, Oliveira lost via TKO due to a micro-tear in his neck/shoulder while attempting a takedown.
UFC Lightweight Championship
- Charles Oliveira, UFC Lightweight Champion
- Won the title against Michael Chandler at UFC 262
- First defense against Dustin Poirier, second defense set against Justin Gaethje
Oliveira vs Chandler at UFC 262
- Oliveira and Chandler competed for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship
- Oliveira won via technical knockout in the second round
- Set new UFC record for most finishes in UFC history
- Earned Performance of the Night bonus award
Oliveira vs Poirier at UFC 269
- First title defense for Oliveira
- Poirier knocked Oliveira down in the first round
- Oliveira won the fight via standing rear-naked choke submission in the first minute of the third round
- Set a new UFC record for most Performance of the Night bonus awards with twelve
Oliveira vs Gaethje at UFC 274
- Set to be Oliveira’s second title defense
- Oliveira missed weight by half a pound
- Oliveira was stripped of the championship due to the weight miss, and only Gaethje was eligible to win the title
- Oliveira won the fight via rear-naked choke submission in the first round, declared number one contender for the UFC Lightweight Championship
- Win earned third place Crypto.com “Fan Bonus of the Night” award
Controversy Surrounding “Scale Gate”
- Other fighters on the UFC 274 card alleged issues with the scales
- UFC’s practice scale put out the night before, not the one used by the Arizona State Athletic Commission for the official weigh-in
- Marc Ratner, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at the UFC, clarified the situation
- UFC president Dana White stated that the UFC would hire a security guard to watch the practice scale going forward
- Ariel Helwani and Dustin Poirier questioned the use of balance or beam scales for official weights and not more accurate digital scales
- Daniel Cormier, Junior dos Santos, and Glover Teixeira criticized stripping a champion over half a pound as excessive
- UFC has the final say in what happens to a championship belt
Oliveira vs Makhachev at UFC 280
- Oliveira faced Islam Makhachev for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 280
- Oliveira lost the fight via arm-triangle choke submission in the second round
- Despite not being the champion, Oliveira received pay-per-view points for UFC 280
Charles Oliveira Family and Personal Life
Charles Oliveira, the Brazilian mixed martial artist, is not only known for his success in the Octagon but also for his philanthropic efforts in his local community. Oliveira and his wife welcomed a daughter in 2017 and reside in Guarujá, Brazil, near his childhood neighborhood of Vicente de Carvalho. He remains actively involved in his community, frequently participating in charitable events and initiatives to improve the lives of those around him.
Oliveira is also a devout Christian, which influences his life both inside and outside of the ring. He credits his faith for giving him strength and helping him to persevere through difficult times.
In addition to his community involvement, Oliveira has faced unique challenges in his fighting career due to his previously poor eyesight. He was once nearsighted and wore glasses at all times, but had to remove them for fights. Despite only being able to see 50% without his glasses, Oliveira said that it never hindered his performance in the ring. In October 2022, Oliveira announced that he had undergone corrective eye surgery and that his vision was now 100% perfect.
In a surprising move, in February 2023, Oliveira announced that he was joining the subscription-based content platform OnlyFans. He plans to share his training regimen, workout routines, and other exclusive content with his fans. Oliveira’s decision to join OnlyFans has received mixed reactions from both his fans and the wider MMA community. However, Oliveira remains committed to engaging with his fans in new and innovative ways while pursuing his passion for martial arts.
Nick Name of Charles Oliveira
Charles Oliveira’s nickname “do Bronx” literally means “from the Bronx”, which is a slang term used to describe favelas and impoverished neighborhoods. In an interview, he explained that he earned the nickname during an amateur tournament when he was asked to come up with a moniker. At the time, he was simply known as Charles Oliveira. However, when he competed in jiu-jitsu championships, people would often say “look at the guys from the Bronx, from the favela”. As a result, he decided to incorporate the nickname “do Bronx” into his persona.
How long was Charles Oliveira paralyzed?
During UFC Fight Night 74, the highly-talented Brazilian fighter experienced a first-round TKO loss to Max Holloway due to a micro-tear in his esophagus. The severity of the injury left him temporarily paralyzed on the left side of his body for a period of four hours.
How old is Charles Oliveira.?
Charles Oliveira was born on October 17, 1989, which makes him 33 years old.
What is weight and Height of Charles Oliveira.?
Charles Oliveira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the featherweight and lightweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of his last fight in December 2021, Oliveira stands at 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) and weighs 155 pounds (70 kg) which is the weight limit for the UFC lightweight division. He has a reach of 74 inches (188 cm), which is considered long for his weight class and has been an asset in his fights, enabling him to connect with his opponents from a distance. Despite being relatively tall for a lightweight, Oliveira has maintained a lean and agile physique that has enabled him to move quickly and with precision in the octagon.
How rich is Charles Oliveira?
Oliveira is estimated to have a net worth of around $2.5M by 2024. Oliveira’s biggest asset is largely due to his achievements at UFC.
Does Charles Oliveira have an eye problem?
Oliveira, who won 33 and lost 8 fights, says his poor visual health has not affected his chances at the World Championships. It did not interfere with my efforts.
Where did Charles Oliveira grow up?
Oliveira came to Brazil from a rudimentary family at Viente Carvalhos’ favela in the tourist city of Guaruja, So Paulo.
Charles Oliveira Records
| Professional record breakdown | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 matches | 33 wins | 9 losses | |||||
| By knockout | 9 | 4 | |||||
| By submission | 21 | 4 | |||||
| By decision | 3 | 1 | |||||
| No contests | 1 | ||||||
| Charles Oliveira Records | |||||||
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 33–9 (1) | Islam Makhachev | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC 280 | 22-Oct-22 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | For the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 33–8 (1) | Justin Gaethje | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 274 | 7-May-22 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Oliveira missed weight (155.5 lb) and was stripped of the UFC Lightweight Championship. Only Gaethje was eligible to win the title. |
| Win | 32–8 (1) | Dustin Poirier | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 269 | 11-Dec-21 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Defended the UFC Lightweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 31–8 (1) | Michael Chandler | TKO (punches) | UFC 262 | 15-May-21 | Houston, Texas, United States | Won the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship. Broke the UFC record for most finishes (17). Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 30–8 (1) | Tony Ferguson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 256 | 12-Dec-20 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 29–8 (1) | Kevin Lee | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira | 14-Mar-20 | Brasília, Brazil | Catchweight (158.5 lb) bout; Lee missed weight. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 28–8 (1) | Jared Gordon | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Jacaré | 16-Nov-19 | São Paulo, Brazil | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 27–8 (1) | Nik Lentz | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee | 18-May-19 | Rochester, New York, United States | |
| Win | 26–8 (1) | David Teymur | Submission (anaconda choke) | UFC Fight Night: Assunção vs. Moraes 2 | 2-Feb-19 | Fortaleza, Brazil | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 25–8 (1) | Jim Miller | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on Fox: Lee vs. Iaquinta 2 | 15-Dec-18 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 24–8 (1) | Christos Giagos | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Anders | 22-Sep-18 | São Paulo, Brazil | Broke the UFC record for most submission wins (11). Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 23–8 (1) | Clay Guida | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC 225 | 9-Jun-18 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 22–8 (1) | Paul Felder | TKO (elbows) | UFC 218 | 2-Dec-17 | Detroit, Michigan, United States | |
| Win | 22–7 (1) | Will Brooks | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 210 | 8-Apr-17 | Buffalo, New York, United States | Return to Lightweight. Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 21–7 (1) | Ricardo Lamas | Submission (guillotine choke) | The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale: dos Anjos vs. Ferguson | 5-Nov-16 | Mexico City, Mexico | Catchweight (155 lb) bout; Oliveira missed weight. |
| Loss | 21–6 (1) | Anthony Pettis | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC on Fox: Maia vs. Condit | 27-Aug-16 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | |
| Win | 21–5 (1) | Myles Jury | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2 | 19-Dec-15 | Orlando, Florida, United States | Catchweight (150.5 lb) bout; Oliveira missed weight. |
| Loss | 20–5 (1) | Max Holloway | TKO (esophagus injury) | UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira | 23-Aug-15 | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada | |
| Win | 20–4 (1) | Nik Lentz | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Alves | 30-May-15 | Goiânia, Brazil | Performance of the Night. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 19–4 (1) | Jeremy Stephens | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale | 12-Dec-14 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (146.5 lb) bout; Oliveira missed weight. |
| Win | 18–4 (1) | Hatsu Hioki | Submission (anaconda choke) | UFC Fight Night: Te Huna vs. Marquardt | 28-Jun-14 | Auckland, New Zealand | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 17–4 (1) | Andy Ogle | Submission (triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Mousasi | 15-Feb-14 | Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 16–4 (1) | Frankie Edgar | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 162 | 6-Jul-13 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 16–3 (1) | Cub Swanson | KO (punch) | UFC 152 | 22-Sep-12 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Catchweight (146.2 lb) bout; Oliveira missed weight. |
| Win | 16–2 (1) | Jonathan Brookins | Submission (guillotine choke) | The Ultimate Fighter: Live Finale | 1-Jun-12 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 15–2 (1) | Eric Wisely | Submission (calf slicer) | UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis | 28-Jan-12 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Featherweight debut. Submission of the Night. |
| Loss | 14–2 (1) | Donald Cerrone | TKO (punches) | UFC Live: Hardy vs. Lytle | 14-Aug-11 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | |
| NC | 14–1 (1) | Nik Lentz | NC (illegal knee) | UFC Live: Kongo vs. Barry | 26-Jun-11 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States | Originally a submission (rear-naked choke) win for Oliveira; overturned due to an illegal knee. Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 14–1 | Jim Miller | Submission (kneebar) | UFC 124 | 11-Dec-10 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| Win | 14–0 | Efrain Escudero | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Marquardt vs. Palhares | 15-Sep-10 | Austin, Texas, United States | Catchweight (159 lb) bout; Escudero missed weight. Submission of the Night. |
| Win | 13–0 | Darren Elkins | Submission (armbar) | UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko | 1-Aug-10 | San Diego, California, United States | Submission of the Night. |
| Win | 12–0 | Diego Battaglia | KO (slam) | Warriors Challenge 5 | 14-Feb-10 | Porto Belo, Brazil | |
| Win | 11–0 | Rosenildo Rocha | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ||||
| Win | 10–0 | Eduardo Pachu | Decision (split) | Eagle Fighting Championship | 26-Sep-09 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 9–0 | Alexandre Bezerra | Submission (anaconda choke) | First Class Fight 3 | 18-Sep-09 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 8–0 | Dom Stanco | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Ring of Combat 24 | 17-Apr-09 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 7–0 | Carlos Soares | Submission (triangle armbar) | Jungle Fight 12: Warriors 2 | 21-Mar-09 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 6–0 | Elieni Silva | TKO (knee and punches) | Korea Fight 1 | 29-Dec-08 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 5–0 | Daniel Fernandes | KO | ||||
| Win | 4–0 | Mehdi Baghdad | TKO (punches) | Kawai Arena 1 | 13-Dec-08 | São Paulo, Brazil | Lightweight debut. |
| Win | 3–0 | Diego Braga | TKO (punches) | Predador FC 9: Welterweight Grand Prix | 15-Mar-08 | São Paulo, Brazil | Won the PFC Welterweight Grand Prix Tournament. |
| Win | 2–0 | Viscardi Andrade | TKO (punches) | PFC Welterweight Grand Prix Semifinal. | |||
| Win | 1–0 | Jackson Pontes | Submission (rear-naked choke) | PFC Welterweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal. | |||
