Back in June, the loss against Ilia Topuria was tough on Charles Oliveira. He admitted to making mistakes and having no good moments in that fight. But on a mental level, that defeat also broke him. He apologized to his fans. That was until he witnessed them supporting him and begging him to come back stronger. That’s exactly what he did at UFC Rio.

He submitted Mateusz Gamrot in round 2 and held up the expectations of his Brazilian fans at UFC Fight Night 261. And during the post-fight press conference, he talked about his previous KO loss to Topuria as well as his new win.

Speaking through a translator at the post-fight press conference, Charles Oliveira opened up like never before. “Man, the moment I lost, and then I thought a lot about if that was the end,” he confessed. “I’ve already lived through so much, I’ve already won so much, so when something happens like that, you think about it.

“And I grabbed the phone to see what people were saying, but it was people telling me, you gotta be back, we love you, and then you started watching the videos.

“‘What do you wanna do?’ I wanted to get back. I just wanted to be here again.”

That moment of clarity changed everything. Oliveira realized that despite the pain, he wasn’t done. At least, not yet. He described the mixed energy of his supporters, saying, “Fifty percent create the hype because they want to surf that wave with me, and the other fifty percent really love you and are worried about you. But I wanted to be here. I wanted to fight. I wanted to come back. And then, you come back and you do this? [win]”

And come back, he did. Against Mateusz Gamrot, he fought like a man possessed. He was cruelly efficient. The Brazilian shut down the Polish contender at every turn, reclaiming control not just of the fight, but of his career. Few athletes can fall that far, that fast, and climb back within months. But Oliveira’s story has always been one of resilience.

From the favelas of São Paulo to becoming a former UFC champion, he had weathered everything. And despite the loss against Topuria, he returned to training at Chute Boxe Academy within weeks. Before his fight against Gamrot, Oliveira shared that he continued training at Chute Boxe the same way he used to.

And because he wanted to make a comeback soon, that too in Brazil, he was all the more motivated.

Fighters often talk about comebacks, but few admit how close they came to quitting. For ‘Do Bronx’, the journey back wasn’t just about proving he could win again. It was about rediscovering why he fought in the first place. And with the victory at UFC Rio secured, he is now eyeing a clash with a man who beat him back in 2015. Who is it?

Charles Oliveira wants Max Holloway next!

Fresh off his submission win over Mateusz Gamrot, the 35-year-old knew who he wanted next. The Brazilian crowd was still roaring when he took the mic and looked straight at UFC executive Hunter Campbell. He exclaimed, “Hey Hunter [Campbell], Charles Oliveira, and Max Holloway, ‘BMF’ let’s make that happen.”

Their first meeting ended abruptly. Back in 2015, a young Oliveira faced Max Holloway at UFC Fight Night 74. It was supposed to be a test of skill until fate intervened. In the very first round, Oliveira suffered a freak neck injury while attempting a takedown. Wincing in pain, he crumpled to the mat, unable to continue. Holloway was awarded the TKO victory, but there was no real fight that night, only confusion and concern.

Doctors later described it as a micro-tear in his esophagus, a rare and terrifying injury. Thankfully, Oliveira recovered without surgery, but the memory lingered. Nearly a decade later, that same man, now a former UFC champion, is ready to rewrite history. This time, both fighters have grown into icons.

Holloway, the reigning BMF titleholder, has conquered featherweight and found new success at lightweight. Oliveira, with UFC Rio marking his comeback, remains one of the most feared submission specialists in the sport.

And so, the man once doubted, dismissed, and proclaimed to be nearly done just a few months ago, has proven he’s still a force to be reckoned with. Because if there’s one thing Charles Oliveira taught everyone at UFC Rio, it’s this: legends don’t fade when they fall, they rise, rebuild, and remind the world why they’re still here!