Charles Oliveira will have the biggest fight of his UFC career this weekend. However, he will have to fight Tony Ferguson at UFC 256 without his head coach, Diego Lima, in his corner. This is because Lima tested positive for COVID-19 merely days before Oliveira’s team flew over to Las Vegas.

While talking to UFC Brasil, the coach from Chute Boxe detailed how he felt after knowing about the test results. A fight with former interim champion, Tony Ferguson, means a lot for Lima’s protege. Hence, Lima is disappointed that he wouldn’t be able to be with Oliveira at such a pivotal moment of his career.

“When I heard about the diagnosis, I didn’t believe it,” said Diego while talking to UFC Brasil (translated via Google Translate). “As I was without symptoms, and at the same time in that excitement of the fight – a fight that we asked for so much, we nor can you believe when something like this happens. I even did other tests, but they ended up positive, too, so there was no other way out.”

“It was frustrating,” he continued, “As much as we don’t believe it, we get frustrated, sad, worried. I immediately warned Charles and it was a blow to him too, he didn’t believe it. At the time, I already said: ‘Don’t worry your head. Focus on the fight, focus on the goal. God knows all things and what has to be, will be. We will respect, believe, and seek victory anyway.”

Charles Oliveira will have the opportunity to enter the title picture at UFC 256

‘Do Bronx‘ has won his past seven fights in the UFC, with all seven of them coming via stoppages. His win streak is the longest in a lightweight division that is more stacked than ever. However, the opponent he faces this Saturday held the same record till earlier this year in April.

Oliveira is in a very similar position where Tony Ferguson was just a while ago. However, owing majorly to his ill-luck and injuries, Ferguson never fought for the undisputed title. Oliveira will try to avoid this fate if he racks up a win this weekend.

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A win over a top contender such as ‘El Cucuy’ will accelerate his journey to a title shot. Therefore, Oliveira will look for a dominating outing this weekend so that he can get into the title picture as soon as possible.

Read More: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Charles Oliveira