Charles Oliveira‘s homecoming fight in Brazil is about redemption — a chance to dispel doubts about his knockout loss to Ilia Topuria and remind fans of his brilliance. But, ahead of his UFC Fight Night 261 main event against Mateusz Gamrot, ‘Do Bronx’ dropped a surprise: instead of dismissing retirement talks as before, he hinted that the end is coming, and he already knows who he wants to share that final walk with.

‘Do Bronx’ is returning to fight in Rio de Janeiro for the first time since 2019, and he’s looking for more than just another win. Fighting in front of his fans once more, he seeks a moment that will define his legacy, not through another rise up the lightweight ladder, but through a statement fight that epitomizes everything he has been.

Charles Oliveira wants another belt, the lightweight title or otherwise

The moment that Oliveira believes will elevate him in an epic swansong lies in the chaos and glory of the BMF title picture. The fighter from the favelas spoke with SHAK MMA about his future plans following UFC Brazil. “The first is winning this fight and fighting for a title, whether it’s a BMF or a title in the division,” he said through his translator.

“These are great things that will… and this is a great fight that will propel me towards a title.” However, his following admission sent shockwaves through the MMA world: “I think a lot of people, everyone, would love to see this fight. I want this to be my last fight.” The fight is against Max Holloway, a name that represents both history and unfinished business for Charles Oliveira.

Their 2015 fight ended abruptly when Oliveira suffered a freak esophagus injury, leading ‘Blessed’ to question the legitimacy of the stoppage. Since then, the two have exchanged words, leaving fans eager for a definitive conclusion to their feud. And now, ‘Do Bronx’ wants a rematch, not out of anger, but as his final act, one worthy of the BMF crown.

It’s an unexpected shift for a man who recently dismissed retirement talks, saying, “I have no desire to retire whatsoever.” But maybe that’s what makes it so interesting. Charles Oliveira‘s story has always been about resilience: falling, rising, and rewriting the story.

If his final chapter is indeed against Max Holloway, it will be more than just a farewell; it’ll be a reminder that some warriors get to choose how they go out: with fire, not fading light. But before he gets himself a BMF title shot, ‘Do Bronx’ will have to grab a win at UFC Fight Night 261. However, it won’t be an easy task for him.

Charles Oliveira‘s troubling history against European rivals

Charles Oliveira’s desire to end his career on his own terms sounds poetic, but UFC Fight Night 261 might test that dream harder than any before. Before talks of Max Holloway or the BMF belt can take shape, ‘Do Bronx’ must first overcome a dangerous obstacle in Mateusz Gamrot, a fighter whose style and precision mirror those of the opponents who have haunted him in recent years.

And, troublingly for the Brazilian, those opponents have almost always been from Europe. Since his record-breaking title run ended, European opponents have become a recurring nightmare for Charles Oliveira. It began with Islam Makhachev‘s submission victory, which revealed flaws in the armor that once made him appear untouchable.

Losses to Arman Tsarukyan and, most recently, pound-for-pound ruler Ilia Topuria, who delivered his first clean knockout, deepened the trend. While wins over Michael Chandler and Beneil Dariush proved that he can still hang with elite competition, his problems against Europe’s best have raised questions about his ability to handle their grinding, tactical style.

Mateusz Gamrot fits that mold perfectly: a persistent, methodical operator from Poland with a massive gas tank and a skill set designed to capitalize on mistakes. For Charles Oliveira, this fight is about more than just staying relevant; it’s about ending a cycle that threatens to define the end of his career. A win in Rio would not only keep his title ambitions alive, but it would also put an end to the demons of Europe that have haunted him since losing the belt.