After crushing UFC knockout, chastened ex-champ chases Rio redemption
The Brazilian Charles Oliveira is to make his return to the Octagon, just three months after his knockout loss to Ilia Topuria.
Charles Oliveira (35-11-0) is set to make a swift return to the UFC Octagon, just 105 days after suffering a knockout loss to Ilia Topuria in their lightweight title bout at UFC 317. The former champion will face Azerbaijani contender Rafael Fiziev (13-4-0) on October 11, at UFC Fight Night in Rio de Janeiro.
Oliveira out to banish bad memories of Topuria thumping
Oliveira’s comeback is happening sooner than many fans expected, especially considering the brutal fashion in which he exited the cage last time. But from the UFC’s perspective, having a Brazilian headlining the Rio card is a strategic move.
With Alex Pereira fighting just a week earlier on October 4, and flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja unlikely to appear on a Fight Night card, Oliveira becomes the natural choice to lead the event.
RIO ARE YOU READY?? 🇧🇷@CharlesDoBronxs will fight in Brazil for the first time in over 5 YEARS in the #UFCRio main event against @RafaelFiziev! pic.twitter.com/S5aNZo1lW3
— UFC (@ufc) August 7, 2025
Who is Rafael Fiziev?
Fiziev, currently ranked No. 10 in the lightweight division, is also returning to action after a win over Ignacio Bahamondes - an outing that took place just one week before Oliveira’s clash with Topuria. With both fighters coming off relatively recent bouts, neither is expected to be hampered by a lack of recovery time.
The stakes are high for both men heading into Rio. Fiziev is looking to build momentum after snapping a three-fight losing streak, while Oliveira - widely seen as the favorite - will be aiming to bounce back from the physical and emotional toll of his last defeat, which cost him a shot at reclaiming the lightweight title.
The Brazilian fan favorite expressed his excitement about fighting on home soil. “It’s a long, long time since I fought in Brazil,” he said in a video posted on social media. “And being able to fight again in Brazil is very important to me. To carry our flag in a gigantic manner.”
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