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Former UFC lightweight champ Charles Oliveira is officially back.
During his media day earlier this week, Oliveira said that he didn’t feel like himself in his loss to Islam Makhachev and was hungrier for his fight against Beneil Dariush.
“About that other fight, I didn’t watch it. It wasn’t me. I wasn’t there,”
“This is a different Charles. This is a Charles that’s thirsty. The Charles that you’re going to see (at UFC 289) is the Charles that you know that’s thirsty for victory, that’s hungry. Someone that’s back at it, a lion that is always hunting. That’s the Charles that you’re going to see.”
On Saturday night, Oliveira made quick work of Dariush by knocking out his opponent in the first round of their fight.
https://twitter.com/assasinatemount/status/1667744103415545856
After the fight, the Brazilian Oliveira, who barely speaks English, told the crowd, “The champion has a name, Charles Oliveira, brother.”
Charles Oliveira after beating Beneil Dariush: 'The champion has a name' pic.twitter.com/qci84fbnIz
— Best MMA Moments (@XcellentMMA) June 11, 2023
Oliveira was extremely emotional while celebrating his win in the cage.
An emotional Oliveira after his win 🙏 pic.twitter.com/nr8C6puWWO
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 11, 2023