UFC 269: Charles Oliveira taps Dustin Poirier to retain title and silence doubters – ‘they talk, I do’
- Lightweight champ submits ‘The Diamond’ with a third-round rear-naked choke in Las Vegas main event
- ‘I’m the world champion, I’m the man,’ declares the Brazilian ‘Do Bronx’ after first title defence
Brazil’s Charles Oliveira cemented himself as the UFC’s top lightweight early on Sunday morning in Las Vegas, submitting No 1 contender Dustin Poirier with a third-round rear-naked choke.
The 32-year-old “Do Bronx” met the American “Diamond” in the main event of a stacked UFC 269 event – the promotion’s final pay-per-view of the year.
The champion found himself in big trouble early, absorbing several huge shots from Poirier in round one. Several of those punches left him on wobbly legs, seemingly on the cusp of being finished.
In a remarkable show of resolve, however, the champion survived that early scare and took control of the fight in round two, pummelling Poirier with ground-and-pound from top position.
His success carried into round three, when he put a stamp on things by climbing onto Poirier’s back, and locking up a standing rear-naked choke to force the tap at the 1:02 mark.
“I’m the world champion,” an excited Oliveira (32-8) howled into the camera after the result was read. “I’m the man. They talk, I do.”
In the past, Oliveira has been accused of giving up when fights aren’t going his way. By surviving Poirier’s first-round assault, however, the Brazilian dispelled any lingering doubts about his toughness and heart.