On June 28 at UFC 317, Charles Oliveira will step into the Octagon with a shot at making history. The Brazilian star aims to become the first fighter ever to win the UFC lightweight title twice. He will be going up against the undefeated Ilia Topuria for the vacant championship. It’s a high-stakes battle that could redefine both careers. But as he prepares for one of the most pivotal fights of his career, ‘Do Bronx’ has opened up about the most difficult chapter of his journey in the sport.

Back in 2022, the Brazilian fighter was gearing up to defend his lightweight title against Justin Gaethje. But controversy struck at the UFC 274 weigh-ins, where Oliveira tipped the scales slightly over the limit. As a result, he was stripped of his title before even stepping into the cage. Despite the setback, Oliveira stepped into the Octagon with something to prove—and he delivered in spectacular fashion.

Submitting Justin Gaethje in the very first round, he reminded the world why he was still the top dog at 155 pounds. It was a statement win that reaffirmed his place at the pinnacle of the lightweight division. But that fight did have some effect on the former champion since he lost his belt.

Red Corner MMA took to their X account to share a video via Real MMA Today, where Oliveira shared his experience of the fight. He said, “In that fight against Justin Gaethje—everyone knows they stole my belt. Man, people think that over 200 grams, they would let it slide? But really, that was never 200 grams. I made weight Thursday, I was good. It was never about 200 grams.”

The Brazilian former champ added, “First, his corner, his coach, was always around me, all over the place like he was from the commission. This stuff doesn’t happen anywhere else. There’s honestly nothing I could do. I fought in his town, his commission, his people. They just wanted to hand him that belt, but they couldn’t do it outright, so they were trying to mess with my head.” 

Oliveira, since that incident, has continued to develop as one of the elite fighters in the division and brushed aside the tag of ‘quitter’. However, his upcoming fight against Topuria might just be the toughest fight of his career. The former featherweight champion is one of those rare fighters who has the perfect balance of striking and grappling skills, along with a supreme and intimidating aura. Moreover, Topuria’s punching power is second to none, as displayed against a vast myriad of opponents including the featherweight GOATS Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. But Oliveira feels he can get past the challenge of Topuria.

Charles Oliveira sends out a message to Ilia Topuria before UFC 317 clash

Charles Oliveira doesn’t appear the least bit shaken by the challenge ahead from Ilia Topuria. He has even boldly claimed that he can knock Topuria out. Part of that confidence comes from the fact that Topuria is moving up from featherweight, a division Oliveira believes gives him the size and strength advantage. Adding to his preparation, Oliveira has been training with Jean Silva, a fellow Brazilian and Fighting Nerds standout.

What makes this significant is Silva’s striking prowess and physical build, both of which closely resemble Topuria’s. According to Oliveira’s camp, Silva has been able to effectively mimic Topuria’s style.

With his preparation in full swing, Oliveira has no doubt in his mind that he will become the lightweight champion next. In a recent conversation with Full Violence, ‘Do Bronx’ said, “It’s a great fight. He’s a great fighter, but I don’t need to prove anything to anyone about who I am, what I’ve done, what I’ve done in the fight business. The fight came at a huge opportunity. I will knock out this guy. That’s for real”. 

Topuria mocked the Brazilian for the losses he has faced in his career. The 28-year-old has also made it clear that in this new division, he won’t be cutting that much weight, so his power won’t be compromised. It seems that at UFC 317, the fight might not just go the full distance, as both fighters will be looking for a knockout.

Who do you think will win the fight between these two elite fighters? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.