The fight world collectively paused when former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira was knocked out cold by Ilia Topuria just minutes into their highly anticipated clash at UFC 317. It was a sudden and brutal end to Oliveira`s bid to reclaim the title, and it saw Topuria, in this particular narrative strand of the multiverse, solidify his claim as a two-weight world championship fighter. Now, Oliveira is opening up about what went wrong in the Octagon, and his introspection points firmly at a failure not of skill, but of discipline.
Few predicted such a swift and decisive finish for Oliveira, a fighter known for navigating deep waters and overcoming adversity against dangerous strikers like Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, and Michael Chandler. The unexpected nature of the defeat has prompted a candid self-assessment from “Do Bronx.”
The Blueprint Ignored: Oliveira`s Strategy for Topuria
In a recent interview, Oliveira laid bare the discrepancy between his extensive preparation and his actual performance. “I would change everything. Not in my training camp, but in the fight,” he stated, highlighting where the disconnect occurred. “Everything I trained, I didn`t put into practice. I didn`t do anything I trained.”
He detailed the precise strategy crafted to neutralize Topuria`s formidable offense. The plan was simple yet effective: “to hit and get out, step on his knees, use hand sequences to be able to kick high to the head, maintain distance with my front kicks.” Crucially, he emphasized training “a lot of calf kicks, a lot of knee stomps, not standing still.”
The irony, perhaps lost on no one, is what actually transpired. “And then the fight started, I stood still, taking blows,” Oliveira admitted. The very thing he trained rigorously *not* to do became the undoing. It`s a classic case of the best-laid plans succumbing to the heat of the moment or, as Oliveira puts it, a lack of discipline when the first punch was thrown.
“Things I should have done, but didn`t,” he reflected. “That`s what frustrates me the most. Having trained so hard for something and not having done it in the fight.” The disappointment in failing to execute his prepared strategy appears to sting more than the loss itself.
Plotting the Comeback: Setting Sights on a Familiar Foe
This setback against Topuria followed a mixed run, coming after a recent loss and a strong bounce-back win. To return to the lightweight title picture, Oliveira understands he must once again build momentum. While Topuria looks towards potential defenses against names like Paddy Pimblett, Arman Tsarukyan, or Justin Gaethje, Oliveira is already identifying his next target, and it`s a familiar face.
Oliveira has expressed interest in running it back with BMF titleholder Max Holloway. Holloway is set to face Dustin Poirier at UFC 318, and Oliveira sees this as a timely opportunity for a rematch.
Their first encounter, back in 2015 when both were featherweights, ended prematurely when Oliveira suffered an injury. With both fighters now firmly established in the lightweight division – Holloway having recently made the full-time jump after a loss to Topuria at UFC 308 – a rematch carries significant weight and offers Oliveira a chance to test his revised approach against another elite striker, hopefully this time sticking to the script.
Rupert Hartwell