Create a free account to unlock this article! Get Started Already a subscriber? Log In

By AG. Fight for FloCombat



The UFC hits Brazil for the third time this year Oct. 28 with UFC Fight Night: Sao Paulo.



For Charles Oliveira, however, the promotion's visit to his home is not a reason to be happy this time around -- he's not part of the card.



In April, "Do Bronx" was last seen in the UFC Octagon submitting former Bellator champion Will Brooks for a "Performance of the Night" award. With the quick win in his bag, Oliveira was hoping to carry on the momentum and get back inside the cage sooner rather than later. Half a year later, though, Oliveira is still waiting for the call.



Even though UFC Sao Paulo is fully booked, Oliveira is offering to jump in if the event's lone lightweight bout (Francisco Trinaldo vs. Jim Miller) or featherweight fight (Hacran Dias vs. Jared Gordon) should take a hit.



"I fought twice in Brazil -- one [fight] was in Goiânia, and the other one in Jaraguá do Sul," Oliveira told AG. Fight for FloCombat. "It was far from my home, away from my family. Of course, the support of the Brazilian people and all the 'You will die' chants [by the crowd] mean a lot of pressure [for the opponent].



"I live in Guarujá, close to my family, close to the people who participate in my day-to-day routine. It would be very cool [to fight close by in Sao Paulo], but I'm a UFC employee. If you give me this opportunity next time, or if any featherweight or lightweight gets hurt, I'll be ready to fight."



Having been out of action for more than six months, "Do Bronx" feels the urge to get back in there and grow every day. Coming off the impressive finish against Brooks, Oliveira assured that he's ready to put on a stellar performance again his next time out and is only waiting for the UFC to offer something up.



"I don't understand much of that [negotiating process]," Oliveira said. "I took fights in which I was the underdog. I faced a former champion [in Brooks], who was supposed to be this and that. Thanks to my training, we took him out."



After suffering two consecutive defeats at featherweight -- one against Anthony Pettis and another to Ricardo Lamas -- and struggling to meet the 146-pound limit multiple times, Oliveira had to return to the lightweight division, where he won his first fight back at 155 pounds. However, despite the victory and the less draining weight cut, Oliveira has made no secret that his wish is to go back down to featherweight eventually.



"I really want to fight at featherweight," Oliveira said. "I did this fight [against Brooks] at lightweight. I beat him. The weight loss was a lot better. Some people say I have more pressure fighting at 155 pounds. Still, I would like to go back to 145 pounds. But, for now, let's wait for this next fight to be made. I think it's going to be at lightweight again."

