Charles Oliveira

Oliveira turned the BMF title fight into a control-heavy grappling performance. He scored takedowns in every round, limited Holloway's volume and swept the cards 50-45 across the board to take the ceremonial belt.

Key moments

• Won the BMF title from Holloway.
• Scored takedowns in all five rounds.
• Blunted Holloway's usual volume with top control and clinch pressure.

Oliveira rebounded from the Topuria knockout by meeting a strong grappler on home soil and still finding the finish. He forced extended scrambles, took the back and secured the rear-naked choke in the second round.

Key moments

• Returned in Brazil after losing the vacant lightweight title fight.
• Beat a high-level wrestler and scrambler at his own pace.
• Took the back and finished with a second-round rear-naked choke.

Oliveira tried to layer pressure, takedowns and leg-lock looks immediately, but Topuria stayed composed through the grappling threats. Once the fight returned to boxing range, Topuria landed a clean right-left and finished with follow-up shots to claim lightweight gold.

Key moments

• Opened with pressure and early grappling threats.
• Topuria defended the takedown and leg-lock sequences.
• A right-left combination badly hurt Oliveira in round one.
• The stoppage came at 2:27, giving Topuria a second UFC title.

Oliveira started and finished with real submission danger, but Tsarukyan's wrestling, top control and damage between those moments edged a narrow split decision. The fight showed Oliveira's finishing threat never disappears, even when he is losing minutes.

Key moments

• Threatened early with a tight guillotine.
• Tsarukyan answered with wrestling and top control.
• Oliveira attacked late submissions, but the judges gave Tsarukyan the split decision.

He dropped Dariush with a head kick early, survived a stint on the bottom, then wobbled Dariush again with a follow-up punch and finished with hammerfists.

Key moments

• Oliveira cracked Dariush with a hard head kick in the opening seconds.
• Fought off bottom position before returning to his feet and hurting Dariush again.
• Finished with hammerfists and called out Islam Makhachev post-fight.

Oliveira challenged for the vacant lightweight title in Abu Dhabi, controlling early action before Makhachev dropped him with a left hand and locked in an arm-triangle choke to end the fight in round two. The loss handed Makhachev his eleventh consecutive win and the lightweight belt.

Key moments

• A vacant-title fight in Abu Dhabi with Oliveira having been stripped for a weight miss.
• Oliveira was competitive in the early exchanges before being dropped by a left hand.
• Makhachev followed him to the canvas and secured the arm-triangle choke.
• Oliveira tapped quickly once Makhachev stepped out of half-guard and set the choke.

In one of the most dramatic first rounds in UFC history, Oliveira was dropped twice by Gaethje but rose each time and found the finish. He hurt Gaethje with a right hand down the middle, followed him to the canvas, and locked in a rear-naked choke — though the title remained vacant because Oliveira had missed weight by half a pound at the weigh-in.

Key moments

• Oliveira was knocked down twice in the same round, yet kept attacking.
• A right hand down the middle shifted the fight; Oliveira followed Gaethje to the floor.
• Secured a triangle and transitioned to the rear-naked choke for the tap at 3:22.
• The belt stayed vacant — only Gaethje could have won it, because Oliveira missed weight.

Oliveira retained the lightweight title in a wildly competitive fight, surviving a punishing first round to outgrapple Poirier over the next two. He lured Poirier into the reckless scramble pace he thrives in and took his back in the third round to seal it with a rear-naked choke.

Key moments

• Entered as an underdog and survived a brutal first round from Poirier.
• Rallied across rounds two and three with superior grappling and scrambling.
• Took Poirier's back and locked in the rear-naked choke at 1:02 of round three.
• Retained the belt in a fight that contended for Fight of the Year.

Oliveira claimed the vacant lightweight title in Houston by rallying from two first-round knockdowns to stop Chandler just 19 seconds into round two. After absorbing serious punishment in the first, he found a clean left hook that dropped Chandler and followed with short left hands until the referee stopped it.

Key moments

• Knocked down twice in a brutal first round — the fight nearly ended before it began.
• Came out swinging in round two and caught Chandler with a clean left hook.
• Short left hands finished the job 19 seconds into round two.
• His ninth consecutive win, eight by finish, gave him his first UFC title.

All three judges scored it 30-26, and the near-armbar finish in round one previewed the danger that Ferguson had no answer for.

Key moments

• Took Ferguson down in the opening round and came inches from a fight-ending armbar.
• Controlled Ferguson on top and in scrambles across all three rounds.
• Threatened a triangle choke late in the final round as Ferguson showed no defensive answer.
• His eighth consecutive win put him firmly in the title conversation.

Oliveira needed just 86 seconds to finish Gordon on home soil in Sao Paulo, catching him with a right counter that wobbled him along the cage and then following with a vicious uppercut to put him down.

Key moments

• Fought in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to a home-crowd reception.
• A right counter caught Gordon moving forward along the cage.
• A follow-up uppercut put Gordon down and the referee called it at 1:26.
• Six straight wins, all by knockout or submission, going into 2020.

Oliveira completed a trilogy sweep of Lentz with a striking-based finish in Rochester — his first TKO in the UFC and his first knockout in nine years of fighting. He caught a kick and immediately countered with a right hand through the middle; Lentz dropped and the follow-up hammerfists brought the stoppage.

Key moments

• Dominated early with jiu-jitsu threats before finding the knockout.
• Caught a kick and counter-punched Lentz flush; follow-up hammerfists ended it at 2:11.
• First TKO win for Oliveira in the UFC; locked up his fifth straight finish at 155.

Oliveira overcame a bad eye poke from Teymur — which cost Teymur a point deduction — and finished the fight in the second round with an upward elbow that stunned his opponent, then seized the anaconda choke when Teymur turned away to defend.

Key moments

• Teymur was docked a point for a deliberate eye poke early in the fight.
• Oliveira stunned Teymur with an upward elbow on the feet in round two.
• Grabbed the anaconda choke when Teymur turned and forced the tap at 0:55.

Oliveira avenged a 2010 submission loss to Miller in the most efficient way possible: a body-lock takedown in the first minute that put him straight to Miller's back, rear-naked choke locked in by 1:15.

Key moments

• A rematch eight years in the making; Miller had submitted Oliveira via kneebar in 2010.
• Oliveira stepped in immediately, grabbed a body lock and threw Miller to the canvas.
• Took the back instantly and locked the rear-naked choke for the tap at 1:15.

Oliveira ground out a second-round rear-naked choke finish in Sao Paulo against Giagos, who had defended several early takedowns and shown solid scramble work before Oliveira timed a takedown perfectly in round two and moved to his back. The win made Oliveira the outright UFC submission leader with 11.

Key moments

• Giagos defended takedowns and scrambled well in the first round.
• Oliveira timed a takedown in round two and quickly reached the back position.
• Rear-naked choke forced the tap at 3:22 of round two.
• Surpassed Royce Gracie for most submission wins in UFC history with his 11th.

He caught Guida along the fence and dropped his hips to tighten the choke until Guida had no choice but to tap.

Key moments

• First fight back after the Paul Felder TKO loss; returned with authority.
• Caught Guida pressing forward and locked a guillotine from the clinch at 2:18.
• Tied Royce Gracie for most submission wins in UFC history with his 10th.
• Performance of the Night bonus in Chicago.

Felder stopped Oliveira in round two in Detroit, surviving early choke attempts and then battering Oliveira with elbows from inside guard. Oliveira kept searching for submissions even as the ground-and-pound mounted, but Felder's pace was too much and the referee halted it just before the round ended.

Key moments

• Oliveira initiated multiple choke attempts in the first round but Felder survived.
• Felder gained confidence and began landing elbows from inside Oliveira's guard.
• Dropped Oliveira with an elbow in round two and kept throwing strikes.
• Referee stopped it at 4:06 of the second; Felder collected a Performance bonus.

Oliveira made a smooth return to lightweight at UFC 210 in Buffalo, taking Brooks down along the cage and immediately going to the back for a standing rear-naked choke that forced the tap at 2:30 of the first round. The efficient finish earned him a Performance of the Night bonus.

Key moments

• First fight at lightweight after a stretch at featherweight.
• Standing rear-naked choke forced the tap at 2:30 of round one.
• Performance of the Night bonus for the dominant finish.

Oliveira missed the featherweight limit by nine pounds and the bout was rescheduled as a catchweight contest in Mexico City. Lamas, fighting with nothing to lose on the scale, caught Oliveira in a guillotine choke in round two and earned a Performance of the Night bonus for the finish.

Key moments

• Oliveira weighed in nine pounds over the 146 lb allowance; fight moved to catchweight.
• Lamas was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus for the second-round finish.
• The guillotine came at 2:13 of the second round.

Oliveira was in command through the first two rounds, scoring takedowns and threatening repeatedly with back control and body triangles, yet Pettis found a guillotine during a third-round scramble and submitted him at 1:49. The dramatic reversal cost Oliveira what had looked like a likely decision win.

Key moments

• Dominated the first two rounds with takedowns and grappling control.
• Pettis survived repeated back-take attempts without giving up the choke.
• A third-round scramble to the feet opened the guillotine opportunity for Pettis.
• Tapped at 1:49 of round three in a stunning turnaround.

Oliveira welcomed Jury to featherweight with a first-round guillotine in Orlando, hunting the neck from the clinch and squeezing the tap at 3:05. It was contested at a catchweight because Oliveira again missed weight, and afterwards he called out Conor McGregor.

Key moments

• Jury was making his featherweight debut after losses at lightweight.
• Oliveira missed weight — a recurring issue — and the bout was at catchweight.
• Caught Jury in a guillotine from standing clinch and forced the tap at 3:05.
• Called out Conor McGregor from the Octagon post-fight.

Oliveira's headlining fight in Saskatoon ended abruptly when he attempted a takedown and immediately grabbed at his neck and shoulder. He was unable to continue and was taken off on a stretcher; the stoppage was ruled a TKO due to injury. Later reports indicated a pre-existing neck issue rather than a new acute injury.

Key moments

• The headlining featherweight bout in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
• Oliveira attempted a takedown and instantly grabbed his neck and shoulder area.
• Medical staff fitted him with a neck brace and removed him on a stretcher.
• Post-fight reports attributed the stoppage to a flare-up of a neck issue from training camp.

Oliveira and Lentz produced an entertaining back-and-forth rematch in Goiania before Oliveira sealed it with a deep guillotine just over a minute into the final round. Lentz had won the second round to keep it close, but Oliveira caught the neck when Lentz closed the distance in round three and refused to let go.

Key moments

• A competitive rematch after their 2011 no-contest; both men had improved.
• Oliveira locked a guillotine choke when Lentz rushed in to start round three.
• Both men earned Fight of the Night bonuses; Oliveira also earned Performance of the Night.

Oliveira controlled Stephens for three rounds at the TUF 20 Finale in Las Vegas, landing at least three tight armbar attempts along with multiple choke looks en route to the unanimous decision. It was a points victory rather than a finish, but Oliveira missed weight by 0.5 lbs and could only win with a three-round decision.

Key moments

• Oliveira missed weight by half a pound and was fined 20 percent of his purse.
• Threatened with at least three armbar attempts and numerous choke attempts throughout.
• Controlled the grappling exchanges in all three rounds.
• Third straight win coming into a strong 2015 campaign.

Oliveira dominated Ogle on the ground from the opening bell in Brazil, cycling through rear-naked choke, D'arce and guillotine attempts across the first two rounds before luring Ogle into a triangle in the third. When Ogle sprawled a takedown and landed on top, Oliveira locked the triangle from the bottom for the tap.

Key moments

• Controlled Ogle for the better part of the fight with grappling dominance.
• Cycled through rear-naked, D'arce and guillotine choke attempts before finding the finish.
• Ogle sprawled a takedown in round three and landed in a triangle from the bottom.
• Fifth submission win in the UFC; sixth Performance of the Night bonus.

Oliveira gave a game effort against Edgar in the UFC 162 co-main event, threatening with submission attempts throughout and surviving a badly hurt third round, but Edgar's output and pressure earned a clear unanimous decision.

Key moments

• Co-main event of the card that also featured Silva vs. Weidman.
• Edgar used a takedown off his opening combination to establish top position.
• Oliveira threatened with submissions consistently but Edgar managed the danger.
• Edgar hurt Oliveira in the third round but couldn't finish; judges gave it 30-27, 30-27, 29-28.

Swanson opened UFC 152 with a highlight-reel knockout, clipping Oliveira with a right hand that produced a delayed collapse at 2:40 of round one. Oliveira had taken Swanson down early but couldn't capitalise; after returning to the feet he took the punch and crumpled with a delayed reaction that drew a Knockout of the Night bonus.

Key moments

• Oliveira scored an early takedown but couldn't hold Swanson on the canvas.
• Swanson landed a right hand to the jaw that produced an unusual delayed-reaction KO.
• Fight ended at 2:40 of round one; Swanson collected $65,000 Knockout of the Night.

Oliveira used his striking to control the first round, then secured a takedown in the second and worked his way to a choke finish at the TUF 15 Finale in Las Vegas. He briefly found himself in danger of the same choke before escaping and locking in his own hold for the tap at 2:42.

Key moments

• Won the striking exchanges in round one before taking it to the ground in round two.
• Briefly found himself trapped in a choke attempt before escaping.
• Pushed Brookins against the cage and secured the choke for the tap at 2:42.
• Third UFC win, reinforcing his reputation as the most dangerous submission artist on the roster.

Oliveira made his featherweight debut with a piece of UFC history: the first-ever calf slicer submission finish in Octagon history. He worked through a heel hook and a knee bar attempt before locking the calf slicer that forced Wisely's tap at 1:43 of round one, earning Submission of the Night.

Key moments

• Featherweight debut; had previously competed at lightweight in the UFC.
• Attempted a heel hook and kneebar before transitioning to the calf slicer.
• The first calf slicer submission finish in UFC history at the time.
• Submission of the Night bonus worth $65,000.

Cerrone stopped Oliveira inside three minutes with a brutal sequence: a left hook to the body that buckled Oliveira, a follow-up knee on the way down, and ground-and-pound until the stoppage.

Key moments

• Cerrone stepped in as a late replacement opponent.
• A left hook to the body bent Oliveira in two; a knee clipped him on the way down.
• Ground-and-pound finished it at 3:01 of round one.

Oliveira appeared to win by submission in round two but the result was overturned to a no-contest by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission.

Key moments

• Oliveira's apparent submission victory was overturned post-event.
• Both fighters received Fight of the Night bonuses despite the no-contest ruling.
• Set up a long rivalry with Lentz that stretched across three eventual bouts.

Oliveira's UFC debut against Miller in Montreal ended in his first professional loss: Miller survived an early barrage of arm bars and triangles, then applied a kneebar at 1:59 of round one. The finish reversed the attacking flow — it was Oliveira who had been hunting submissions, and Miller who found one first.

Key moments

• UFC debut against an established lightweight contender in Montreal.
• Opened with high kicks and multiple takedown attempts.
• Attacked arm bars and triangles from the bottom but Miller survived.
• Miller locked a kneebar and forced the tap at 1:59 — Oliveira's first professional loss.

Oliveira submitted Escudero with a standing rear-naked choke in round three in his second UFC appearance, earning Submission of the Night. He scored a takedown, defended Escudero's armbar counter and then took the back when Escudero scrambled to his feet, choking him out from standing.

Key moments

• Second UFC appearance; the bout was at catchweight after Escudero weighed in at 159 lb.
• Oliveira scored a takedown and defended a counter armbar from Escudero.
• Took Escudero's back when he scrambled upright and locked a standing rear-naked choke.
• Submission of the Night bonus for the creative finish.

Oliveira announced himself to the UFC in spectacular fashion, finishing Elkins in 41 seconds on debut. He was taken down by Elkins but immediately attacked a triangle choke and transitioned to an armbar that forced the tap — the first of what would become the UFC's most submission wins in history.

Key moments

• UFC debut; originally scheduled for the TUF Finale but rescheduled due to visa issues.
• Was taken down by Elkins but turned it immediately into a submission attempt.
• Triangle choke transitioned to armbar; Elkins tapped at 0:41.

Oliveira fought twice in one night at Warriors Challenge 5 in Porto Belo, Brazil, with the tournament final against Battaglia ending in a first-round KO via slam.

Key moments

• Second fight of the night in a one-night tournament at Warriors Challenge 5.
• Finished Battaglia with a slam KO in round one to claim the tournament.
• All twelve wins to this point had come by knockout or submission.

Oliveira opened the Warriors Challenge 5 tournament on Valentine's Day in Porto Belo with a quick first-round rear-naked choke of Rocha, setting up the same-night final against Battaglia. Consistent with his pattern, the finish came from grappling control rather than extended exchanges.

Key moments

• First fight of the night in a one-night tournament format.
• Rear-naked choke finished Rocha at 1:21 of round one.
• Set up a same-night final against Diego Battaglia.

Oliveira travelled to Atlantic City for Ring of Combat 24 and submitted Stanco with a rear-naked choke in the first round, claiming the ROC catchweight title in the process.

Key moments

• Fought in Atlantic City, New Jersey — a rare appearance outside Brazil for the young Oliveira.
• Rear-naked choke finished Stanco at 3:33 of round one.
• Claimed the ROC Vacant Catchweight Championship at 159 lbs.

The technical finish demonstrated the breadth of his submission game even at this early stage.

Key moments

• Finished with an inverted triangle armbar at 2:48 of round one.
• One of several distinct submission types Oliveira had already shown before turning 20.
• Jungle Fight was one of Brazil's premier regional MMA platforms at the time.

Oliveira completed the Korea Fight 1 tournament with a second-round TKO of Silva on the same night he had knocked out Fernandes.

Key moments

• Tournament final on the same night as the Fernandes KO.
• All seven wins to this point were by knockout or submission.
• Set the stage for a busy 2009 campaign across multiple promotions.

Oliveira stopped Baghdad — a fighter who would later appear in the UFC — by TKO punches in the first round at the inaugural Kawai Arena event in Brazil. The win marked his lightweight debut after competing at heavier weights in the Predador FC tournament earlier that year.

Key moments

• Lightweight debut; had previously competed at a higher weight at Predador FC 9.
• TKO by punches at 1:01 of round one at the Kawai Arena inaugural event.
• Part of an extraordinary six-fight year in 2008 for the teenage Oliveira.

Oliveira opened the Predador FC 9 welterweight grand prix with a first-round rear-naked choke of Pontes, advancing to the next stage of the same-night tournament.

Key moments

• Professional MMA debut at Predador FC 9 in a one-night grand prix format.
• Rear-naked choke finished Pontes at 2:11 of round one.
• Advanced to the next round of the tournament on debut night.
• The first of what would become the most submission wins in UFC history.

Oliveira's second fight of the night at Predador FC 9 was a second-round TKO of Andrade, advancing him to the tournament final. The punching finish showed early versatility beyond pure grappling.

Key moments

• Second fight of the night in the one-night Predador FC 9 grand prix.
• TKO by punches at 2:47 of the second round; different finish method from the opener.
• Advanced to the tournament final on the same evening.
• Two fights in one night on his debut day — a gruelling format for any professional.

Oliveira won the Predador FC 9 welterweight grand prix by stopping Braga with punches in the first round of the tournament final, completing three fights in one night on his professional debut. The performance announced a precocious teenager with the finishing instinct and conditioning to thrive in tournament formats.

Key moments

• Tournament final — Oliveira's third fight of the night on his professional debut.
• TKO by punches at 2:30 of round one to claim the Predador FC 9 grand prix title.
• Finished all three opponents on debut night without going past the second round.
• The three-fight debut night launched one of MMA's most prolific finishing careers.