Overcame heart problems, emerged from Brazil’s favelas to become UFC champion: now he seeks to regain his crown

Having made the step up to the UFC lightweight division, Hispano-Georgian fighter Ilia Topuria now knows who his next opponent will be. He will face one of the big names in the category, the Brazilian Charles Oliveira, who has been overshadowed in recent years by Islam Makhachev’s reign in this division.

Oliveira, 35, boasts a record of 35 wins and 10 losses (compared to Topuria’s 16-0-0). His fighting style is characterized primarily by his jiu-jitsu moves, something Topuria will need to prepare for ahead of their bout at UFC 317, in Las Vegas on June 28.

Overcame humble origins and health issues

The nickname ‘Do Bronx’ is a testament to the many adversities Oliveira has overcome throughout his life.

Born into poverty in the Brazilian favela of Vicente de Carvalho in Guarujá, Oliveira was diagnosed with a heart murmur and rheumatic fever at just seven years old. He fought these ailments through sports, which ultimately saved him and became his way of life after showcasing his jiu-jitsu skills.

A former lightweight champ

Oliveira has had a long career as a professional in mixed martial arts since his debut in 2010.

He has faced major figures in the discipline and became the lightweight champion after defeating Michael Chandler in May 2021 at UFC 262. He successfully defended his title against Dustin Poirier in December 2021 at UFC 269 and won a second defense against Justin Gaethje in May 2022 at UFC 274.

However, Oliveira lost his throne in October 2022, when he fell to Makhachev at UFC 280, marking the beginning of the Russian’s reign in the category.

Oliveira had to fight his way back to reclaim his spot, which he did by knocking out Beneil Dariush in June 2023. His progress was halted by a split decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan in April last year.

In his most recent fight, in November, Oliveira managed to bounce back by defeating Chandler by unanimous decision, thus climbing to second spot in the lightweight rankings ahead of his new challenge against Topuria.

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