Why do People Love Charles Oliveira?
Time and time again, one man stands out as a fan favourite internationally in the sport of mixed martial arts. He walks his opponents down as if they owe him money (which they technically do), he speaks with conviction and heart, and above all, he embodies the thrill and the agony of the sport like no other.
What is it about Charles ‘Do Bronx’ Oliveira that makes him special? In the spirit of a similar article I wrote for Leon Edwards (which you can find here), I want to find out why Oliveira has a stranglehold on the wider MMA community, looking at his story from the beginning of his legendary 11 fight win streak to present day.
Vs Paul Felder 2
Oliveira’s UFC run is distinct in that he’s lived on both sides of the spectrum of a fighting career. Going into the Felder fight, he had a UFC record of 10–7 (1 NC), a record filled with spots that looked uncertain for the Brazilian’s spot on the roster. He’d also missed weight on several occasions across featherweight and lightweight, only adding to an air of inconsistency.
After an impressive string of submission attempts in round one, Felder would bring the fight into his hands with his vicious ground and pound, resulting in the eighth loss of Oliveira’s career. Despite the devastating nature of the TKO finish, the effect it had on Charles’ career…
