Why did Charles Oliveira lose the belt?

Charles "Do Bronx" Oliveira is a Brazilian MMA fighter who competes in the UFC's lightweight division. He has an impressive career and is a former UFC lightweight champion. Currently, Oliveira holds the No.2 spot in the UFC lightweight rankings. Before transitioning to MMA, Oliveira had a strong background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, where he achieved success and earned various championship titles. However, in 2007, he decided to pursue a career in mixed martial arts. Since then, Oliveira has become a prominent figure in the UFC's lightweight division.

Oliveira's fighting style is well-rounded, but his expertise in Brazilian jiu-jitsu stands out. He is known for his exceptional grappling skills and has secured an impressive record of 16 submission victories in the UFC, which is the highest in the organization's history. Additionally, Oliveira holds the record for the most finishes in the UFC lightweight division, with a total of 20.

Why did Charles Oliveira lose the belt?

During the weigh-in for his title defense on May 7 as part of UFC 274, Charles Oliveira exceeded the weight limit and was stripped of his UFC lightweight belt. He came in at 155.5 pounds, half a pound over the 155-pound division limit. Although Oliveira was given an hour to shed the excess weight, he was unable to do so. This marks the first time a UFC champion has lost their title due to missing the weight requirement.

Despite the belt being stripped from Oliveira, the fight between him and Justin Gaethje proceeded as planned. However, only Gaethje was eligible to win the title. Oliveira won the bout via submission but remained without a title.

Oliveira's next fight was against Islam Makhachev at UFC 280 for the vacant UFC lightweight belt. Makhachev won the bout via submission in the second round to become the new UFC lightweight champion.

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*Last updated on November 9, 2024.