Former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira is set to step into the octagon for his 34th fight under the UFC banner in a bid to further cement his legacy as he takes on #7-ranked lightweight contender Michael Chandler at UFC 309. This fight holds significant stakes for Oliveira, as a victory would solidify his status as a top-ranked fighter and position him for a future title shot.

However, what makes this bout truly special is the unique historical parallel it represents. This UFC event at Madison Square Garden marks the second time Oliveira and Jon Jones will fight on the same card. Much like the rare event of a comet passing through Earth’s orbit, Oliveira is on the verge of repeating history. Years ago, Oliveira began his UFC career fighting on an undercard headlined by Jon Jones. Now, at UFC 309, Oliveira once again finds himself sharing the stage with Jones at MSG, bringing his journey full circle.

Expressing gratitude at this fortunate co-incidence, Charles Oliveira posted a picture with Jon Jones from the UFC face-off event with the caption, “Yesterday I had the pleasure of taking a picture with this guy, who I’m a big fan of. I debuted in the UFC 14 years ago, and I already had the opportunity to compete as Revelation of the Year alongside this giant, and tomorrow we’ll share the same stage!!”

The 35-year-old Charles Oliveira is coming off a recent loss to Arman Tsarukyan at the historic UFC 300, where Tsarukyan defeated Oliveira by a razor-thin split decision. Following the fight, Oliveira criticized the judges’ scorecards, but was reminded that he needs to finish his opponents to leave no doubt. Meanwhile, Jon Jones is returning to the octagon after recovering from an injury after undergoing surgery last year.

When Charles Oliveira graded himself on the same level as Jon Jones

Charles Oliveira recently sat down with UFC internet personality Nina Marie Daniele for a unique and insightful interview that has become a fan favorite. Throughout the conversation, Daniele drew out a side of Oliveira that many hadn’t seen before, asking him unexpected and thought-provoking questions. One standout moment came when Daniele asked Oliveira to rate Jon Jones as a fighter. Oliveira gave Jones a 10/10, emphasizing his legendary career.

Oliveira explained, “He came up with me, [he had] just a long career [like me], I’ve always admired [him]. We’ve been up for Fight of the Year one of the times, but [he’s] a guy who’s been here all along, I admire him a lot. I love him; he’s a 10.” Daniele then turned the question on Oliveira, asking him to rate himself, to which Oliveira confidently gave himself a 10/10.

And why wouldn’t he give himself a perfect score? Oliveira holds the record for the most finishes in UFC history at 20, and the most wins by submission in company history at 16, along with multiple accolades and performance bonuses across two divisions. He truly is one of the best to ever do it, and it’s incredible to see him get the much needed respect and adoration from fight fans.

What do you think of Charles Oliveira’s journey in the UFC? While he joined the promotion just two years after Jon Jones, Oliveira’s consistent presence and performance in the sport have allowed him to surpass Jones (27-1-0) in many areas. How do you view Oliveira’s impact and run in the UFC? Share your thoughts below.