Charles Oliveira Seeks UFC Title Comeback in Rio

Charles Oliveira is set to return to the UFC Octagon on October 11 in Rio de Janeiro, marking his first fight in Brazil since 2020. The 35-year-old former lightweight champion aims to rebound from a first-round knockout loss to Ilia Topuria and reestablish himself in the division, with this bout likely representing his final title push. Oliveira faces Rafael Fiziev, a 32-year-old fighter ranked tenth, who is seeking to continue his resurgence after snapping a three-fight losing streak. Oliveira's recent career has been marked by a series of ups and downs, including losing his lightweight title due to a failed weigh-in and suffering knockout and submission defeats in title fights. The matchup is viewed as more critical for Oliveira, who needs a win to remain relevant in the lightweight title scene, whereas Fiziev benefits from a favorable matchup to move closer to a top-three ranking. Oliveira's previous fights in Brazil were notably affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with his last home fight in 2020 taking place behind closed doors, making this return highly anticipated by his Brazilian fanbase.