Charles Oliveira went 5 rounds for the primary time in his 46-fight MMA profession this previous Saturday to defeat Michael Chandler within the co-main occasion of UFC 309 in New York, and he needed to overcome troublesome last minutes and a number of other unlawful strikes to return out victorious through determination.
The previous UFC light-weight champion mentioned on the UFC 309 post-fight press convention he wasn’t within the temper to criticize Chandler, who he has now crushed twice contained in the octagon, however wasn’t pleased along with his fouls through the match nor Keith Peterson’s work because the referee.
“I don’t prefer to criticize, I don’t prefer to say something, however when you guys noticed it, what else am I going to say?” Oliveira mentioned. “I don’t wish to criticize anybody, however I used to be hit too many instances behind the pinnacle. He grabbed the cage so much, I used to be poked within the eye too many instances. We’re turning into extra professionals each time extra and we don’t want any of that. I believe the referee may have been extra extreme. I instructed him many instances what was happening and he stood there trying like nothing was occurring.”
Oliveira nonetheless gained, rebounding from a detailed determination defeat to Arman Tsarukyan earlier this week and as soon as once more placing himself within the No. 1 contender spot in opposition to the winner of Islam Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan. The title match is anticipated for early 2025, and “do Bronx” desires to be sitting entrance row.
The Brazilian confirmed he had a knee damage in camp that compelled him out of coaching for some time, however his crew did an important job serving to him navigate by troublesome instances and keep within the struggle. The UFC 309 victory was solely Oliveira’s fifth UFC determination in 34 octagon appearances, awarding him a file twentieth post-fight bonus, however he hoped for a definitive stoppage like his first conflict with Chandler in 2021.
“I don’t wish to go to the tip, I come right here on the lookout for [the finish] and are available searching always,” Oliveira mentioned. “However once we’re speaking about two of robust guys and him and I, it occurs. We’er speaking about MMA and that exhibits how a lot I’ve grown in MMA. Prior to now, I’d have rushed for the submission or exploded to get a greater place, however now I simply wished to win.”
