“The Belt’s Going to Be Mine”- Charles Oliveira Sends a Message After Defeating Kevin Lee

You hear all the stories about how combat sports fighters get all bruised mentally and physically only to come back into the fold with style like Charles Oliveira did on Saturday night.

The Brazilian lightweight contender with this win goes on to etch his name on the record books for most submissions by any fighter in the UFC history.

The Saturday’s main event in Brasilia although folded in an empty arena but what Charles Oliveira achieved is nothing less remarkable.

“Do Bronx” submitted Kevin Lee by guillotine choke in the third round to extend his submission record to 14.

And also takes his winning streak to seven fights all coming by stoppage.

This fight is the first win in which he submitted an opponent ranked inside top 10.

Oliveira now believes the only way to go up the stream is the title shot.

“I’ll fight whoever they put in front of me, but I deserve to be in the top 10. I deserve to fight a top-five or the winner of Khabib-Ferguson,” Oliveira is translated through an interpreter on the UFC on ESPN + post-fight show.

“I’m making history. I fought on the first UFC event without the public. I made history tonight.”

And he certainly did so.

UFC Brasilia, after the city’s governor ban on large gatherings, was limited to just staff and personnel.

Furthermore, the Brazilian commission did not test fighters ahead of the fight for COVID-19.

A development which was later criticised in some quarters of the media.

Oliveira furthers asks for a title shot by calling out Khabib and Ferguson.

“Tony Ferguson and Khabib, I’ll be sitting in the first row.”

“There’s no denying it, I’m one of the best in the world, the belt’s going to be mine,” he adds.

The 30-year-old was earlier left in crossroads as to compete or not given some matters important to him were already pressing on.

“I’ve been calling Kevin Lee out for a year, I had some injuries on my left shoulder coming into this fight.”

“I came into the weight cut too heavy, I was worried about that, but I’m happy I put on a good show for everybody.”

“I was expecting that kick,” says Oliveira after the fight.

Kevin Lee did a mistake of letting his head fall allowing Oliveira to lock in a guillotine choke.

The main event of UFC Brazil which played out in front of the empty arena gives little to get overjoyed.

But Oliveira believes his performance will reach out to many viewers watching online.

“I’m happy people at home watched the fight, some people who haven’t watched UFC maybe watched it tonight.”

“I showed that once again a guy from the favela, from the community, is taking over the world.”