UFC 256: Charles Oliveira’s utter domination of Tony Ferguson brings title shot one step closer
- Brazilian puts on a masterclass and moves into pole position in lightweight division
- ‘I came in here and you tell me, who’s dominated him like that?’ says Oliveira as he take unanimous decision
Charles Oliveira did the previously unthinkable at UFC 256 on Saturday night, never allowing Tony Ferguson a moment as he completely dominated on the feet and on the ground in taking their lightweight bout via unanimous decision.
Across his stellar 10-year career in the UFC, the legend that is Ferguson had always, at some stage, looked dangerous but Oliveira simply had his measure from the first bell to the last and in winning – all 30-26s on the judges’ scorecards – the No 7-ranked Brazilian placed himself in the title picture, front and centre.
“I was the only guy to accept this fight. I knew it was going to be really tough but 2021, I’m coming,” Oliveira told Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview.
“He’s a champion. I knew he wasn’t going to tap out. I came in here and you tell me, who’s dominated him like that?”
Yeah, no one.
With Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov (29-0) in retirement, the lightweight division is up for grabs and the 31-year-old Oliveira, surging now on a 8-0 run, said his moment had come.
From the bell it was Oliveira (30-8, one no contest) throwing kicks and landing an early right. Ferguson (26-5) was dancing, and switching stances and getting the odd uppercut in but the American seemed wary, finding himself for once not the overwhelming aggressor.
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The major surprise was how easily Oliveira got Ferguson down, about halfway through the round, and how he took full mount despite the squirming and the desperation of the man below him.
Ferguson rarely hits the mat, unless of his own accord. And Oliveira was monstering him, with an arm bar at the death that seemed to bend the American’s left limb to a bizarre angle.
Ferguson tried to hide the damage but once action resumed it was clear he’d been hurt, and soon he was down again, and being rag-dolled by Oliveira as the Brazilian looked for an opening that might allow him to finish the fight.
In the break between rounds two and three, Ferguson’s coaches even called on their man to increase his volume – another shock, given the weight of numbers the man has thrown up previously.
But this should be all about Oliveira, and in the third he got his man down again, and he rolled and he rolled, and he was in such complete control that the likes of Rogan, cage side could hardly believe what they were seeing.
But Ferguson knew, just as the likes of Kevin Lee, Nick Lentz and Jim Miller have in losing to the Brazilian during his run to the top of the division.
Ferguson had been doing everything in his power to grab a shot at Nurmagomedov (29-0), winning 12 straight and lighting up the Octagon every time he appeared. But then Covid-19 came, and his opportunity was taken away.
Keen as ever to enter the fray, Ferguson took a bout against fellow American Justin Gaethje (22-3) back at UFC 249 in May, and it was brutal, and it was lost.
Now he’s had a loss that was comprehensive, and he’ll have to sit back and watch others scrap for the glory.
Ahead we have UFC 257 in January 23, and American’s number two ranked Dustin Poirier ((26-6, one no contest) and the Irish number four-ranked former champ Conor McGregor (22-4). Oliveira gets the chance to watch, and to wait.
“The boss already said whoever won this fight will be in a great position to fight for the belt, so I’ll be waiting to see who’s going to fight me,” said Oliveira.
