Former UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira is open about what went wrong at UFC 317.
The chance of Charles Oliveira to secure a second UFC light weight title was far behind the goal on UFC 317. Only a few minutes in his empty title fight with Ilia Topuria, Velturia Oliveira with a right hand who sent the former title holder unconscious before he hit the Canvas.
It was a stunning finish of the UFC 317 headliner after Oliveira Knock -out threats from Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler survived during his lightweight term. In the meantime, Topuria confirmed his estate as one of the few two -weight world championship fighters of the UFC.
While Topuria takes the fight as a modest favorite, few Oliveira expected to be demolished in the way he did it at UFC 317. According to the former title holder, it all came down to a lack of discipline as soon as the fight began.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Charles Oliveira shares what his strategy was for Ilia Topuria Fight on UFC 317
In a recent interview with AG Fight, Oliveira was asked about his game plan on UFC 317 and what he would do differently in a rematch against Topuria.
“I would change everything. Not in my training camp, but in the fight,” said Oliveira. “Everything I have trained, I did not put into practice. I did nothing I trained. He implemented his strategy and became champion. In reality, [the strategy] Wash to hit and get out, step on his knees, use Judgments to make it high on the head, to retain distance with my front heads. I had trained many calf kicks, many knee pumps, not standing still. And then the fight started, I stood still and took strokes. Things I should have done, but not.
“That is what frustrates me the most. Having trained so hard for something and did not fight it.” (H/T Sherdog)
Oliveira's setbacks on UFC 317 came after a split loss of decision for Arman Tsarukyan on UFC 300 last year. He bounced back in a big way with a decisive victory over Chandler over UFC 309 in November.
Now Oliveira will have to put together a series of victories to return to the lightweight title photo. Topuria is expected to be confronted with Paddy Pimblett, Tsarukyan or Gaethje later this year. While the former champion is preparing for his UFC -Comeback attempt, a top name is on his radar for a potential opponent.
Charles Oliveira Open for UFC 318 Headliner for Octagon Return
Oliveira wants to decline with BMF title holder Max Holloway for his targeted return to the Octagon later this year. Holloway will be confronted with Poirier later this month in a headliner of the BMF title on UFC 318 in his first fight since a knockout loss against Topuria on UFC 308 last year.
Holloway and Oliveira fought earlier in their career when both stars were featherweight contenders. In 2015, Holloway Oliveira defeated TKO after Oliveira had sustained a esophageal injury just a few minutes after their fight.
Now that Holloway and Oliveira are full -time light weights, a potential rematch can be around the corner. Holloway announced his full -time switch to the lightweight division after his defeat of featherweight title against Topuria.