The year 2025 has been far from a carnival for Brazilian fighters inside the UFC. Many of the so-called ‘Tropical Giants’ stumbled under the bright lights, failing to meet the challenges laid out by Dana White & Co. Yet, amid the setbacks, a few stars have managed to claw their way back to victory. Fighters like Alex Pereira and Carlos Prates have reignited hope for Brazil’s fighting legacy. But Charles Oliveira still fights to complete his redemption.

Now, determined to turn the page, ‘Do Bronxs’ looks to reclaim his spotlight in front of his home crowd at UFC Rio on October 11. The Brazilian icon will face late-replacement Mateusz Gamrot in a grueling five-round battle. For Charles Oliveira, this bout is more than just another fight—it feels like a defining chapter in his storied career. With only two wins in his last five UFC outings, he steps into the Octagon carrying the weight of high expectations. In the days leading up to the fight, the former KSW champ has been strategically circling Oliveira, watching the Brazilian closely in an effort to gain any edge before the showdown.

Mateusz Gamrot shares his impressions of Charles Oliveira’s hometown ahead of UFC Rio clash

The fight night for UFC 261 is still a few days away, but Mateusz Gamrot has already made his presence felt in Oliveira’s backyard. In his latest outing with AG. Fight on YouTube, the Polish fighter revealed that this marks only his second trip to Brazil, having first visited a decade ago for an ADCC event. Speaking about his arrival, he said, “I came here on Sunday morning. Yeah, Sunday was my travel day.”

During his stay, Mateusz Gamrot explored some of Brazil’s most iconic landmarks, from Christ the Redeemer to the beaches and the favelas of Charles Oliveira’s hometown, highlighting the experience on Instagram. Even so, he remains fully focused on the Octagon. After the fight, he hopes to tick off a few more items from his bucket list.

On experiencing Brazil, ‘Gamer’ revealed: “It was a great experience — really interesting for me. It was my first time seeing a real favela and my first time seeing Christ the Redeemer. It’s the most famous place here, so I really enjoyed it; I liked it a lot. After the fight, I’ll go back home on Monday, but I hope to spend a bit more time downtown. I heard Sugarloaf Mountain is great, right? So maybe I’ll go there. Yeah, maybe I’ll go there. We’ll see.”

But before all that, he has to go through Charles ‘Do Bronxs.’ The former champion has a habit of bouncing back from bad losses with destructive wins. Does the same fate await Gamrot?

Charles Oliveira is recovering from a crushing knockout defeat to Ilia Topuria at UFC 317 during International Fight Week in June—a loss that cost him the chance to become a two-time lightweight champion. Now, determined to turn the page, the Brazilian is ready to reclaim his spotlight. This time, in front of his home crowd at UFC Rio on October 11, he will face late-replacement Mateusz Gamrot in a five-round battle.

Mateusz Gamrot reveals his mindset ahead of UFC Rio clash with Oliveira

With 47 fights under his belt, Charles Oliveira has carved his name into the annals of Brazilian MMA, standing tall among the finest fighters to grace the UFC Octagon. Across 36 UFC bouts, ‘Do Bronxs’  has built a legacy defined by resilience, skill, and a record number of finishes and bonuses. This weekend at UFC Rio, he aims to add yet another chapter to his storied career. Despite often entering the shark-infested waters of the lightweight division as an underdog, Oliveira’s meteoric 11-fight win streak from 2018 to 2022 transformed him into a fan favorite, cherished by supporters both in Brazil and around the world.

Beyond his accolades, fans admire Charles Oliveira most for his grounded, down-to-earth persona. Now approaching his 36th birthday, the former UFC lightweight champion has firmly secured his place among the sport’s legends. That respect even extends to his challengers, like Mateusz Gamrot, who will face the Brazilian at UFC Rio. Speaking candidly about his mindset, Gamrot said:

“Charles legend from here. One of the greatest lightweight divisions. I understand. But I like being in the enemy territory. I feel like more energy from the boo and from the crowd too, so I understand this. I appreciate the crowd being going to support for his hero, but I know this right now it’s time to take his place and change guard.”

Looking ahead to another formidable challenge against the former two-division KSW champion, can Charles Oliveira halt Gamrot’s momentum? The Polish fighter has been steadily rising in the UFC, impressing against opponents like Arman Tsarukyan. Share your predictions below for their upcoming clash.