Charles Oliveira's post fight interview. Says he doesn't care who the UFC puts in front of him for the vacant lightweight title fight. Then asks if McGregor is gonna run from him #UFC274 pic.twitter.com/B9KdzctJPl
— MMA mania (@mmamania) May 8, 2022
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https://scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3176937/ufc-274-charles-oliveira-taps-out-justin Mixed Martial Arts
UFC 274: Charles Oliveira taps out Justin Gaethje with rear-naked, says ‘something is missing here’
- ‘Do Bronx’ gets dropped twice in opening exchanges but recovers to knock Gaethje down and lock in submission
- Win makes Oliveira No 1 contender to lightweight title he never technically lost, after controversial weight miss on Friday
Charles Oliveira applies a rear-naked choke for the submission victory against Justin Gaethje at UFC 274. Photo: USA TODAY Sports
Charles Oliveira tapped out Justin Gaethje with a first-round rear-naked choke in the main event of UFC 274 on Saturday night in Phoenix, Arizona, but the victory did not come easily.
The Brazilian, 32, was hurt badly by several strikes in the early going of his lightweight fight with Gaethje, crashing to the canvas on two occasions. But just when it looked like he was destined for a knockout loss, he scored a knockdown of his own, took his foe’s back, and locked up a rear-naked choke.
Gaethje, 33, fought the choke for a moment, but was soon drifting off as he attempted to tap out.
It was a dramatic win to cap off a dramatic week for Oliveira.
The Brazilian landed in Phoenix as the UFC lightweight champion, but was stripped of his title after missing weight by half a pound at Friday’s pre-fight weigh-ins.
In victory, he is now the No 1 contender for the title he never technically lost, and is expected to be matched up with another top lightweight for the division’s vacant throne sometime in the coming months.
“There’s something missing here,” he said in his post-fight interview with commentator Joe Rogan, evidently frustrated by the situation. “The champion has a name and it’s Charles Oliveira.
“This is a message for the entire division. I’m a problem. Look at this team, look at me. I am the enlightened. This is my title, it should be here.”
“I don’t care, just put anybody in front of me. I’m not going to choose. Hey, Conor McGregor, are you coming up or are you gonna run away?”
Charles Oliveira throws an uppercut at Justin Gaethje at UFC 274. Photo: USA TODAY Sports
Oliveira (33-8) has now won 11 consecutive fights. Other highlights of his current streak include a submission victory over Dustin Poirier to defend the lightweight title, a knockout win over Michael Chandler to win it, as well as a decision win over former interim champion Tony Ferguson in a non-title bout.
Gaethje (23-4), meanwhile, is now winless in two bids for the UFC lightweight title, having been submitted by former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in his first attempt in 2020.
Before losing to Oliveira, he defeated Chandler by decision in one of the best fights of 2021.