Charles Oliveira facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charles Oliveira |
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Oliveira in 2021
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| Born | Charles Oliveira da Silva 17 October 1989 Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Nickname(s) | do Bronxs |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | 155 lb (70 kg) |
| Division |
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| Reach | 74 in (188 cm) |
| Style | Brazilian jiu-jitsu |
| Fighting out of | São Paulo, Brazil |
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| Trainer | Diego Lima |
| Rank | 4th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black prajied in Muay Thai |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 47 |
| Wins | 35 |
| By knockout | 10 |
| By submission | 21 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Losses | 11 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 2 |
| No contests | 1 |
Charles Oliveira da Silva (born October 17, 1989) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and a skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. He is famous for competing in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC Lightweight Champion.
Oliveira is known for his exciting fighting style and holds several UFC records. He has the most submission wins (16) and the most finishes (20) in the history of the UFC. He has also earned the most performance bonuses (20), which are special awards given to fighters for outstanding performances.
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Early Life and Health Challenges
Charles Oliveira grew up in a poor neighborhood, known as a favela, in Guarujá, Brazil. When he was seven years old, doctors found he had a heart murmur and rheumatic fever. They told him he might not be able to play sports.
Despite the doctor's warning, his parents let him be active, and his health improved. At age 12, a neighbor introduced him to a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) gym. The trainer offered free classes to kids from low-income families. To help pay for his training, his family sold snacks on the street.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Career
Oliveira quickly became a star in the world of jiu-jitsu. He won many championships as a young competitor. In 2007, he became a world champion as a blue belt. He continued to win medals and tournaments before deciding to focus on a career in mixed martial arts (MMA). In 2010, he earned his black belt in BJJ, a major achievement for any martial artist.
Mixed Martial Arts Career
Early Fights and Joining the UFC
Oliveira started his professional MMA career in 2007 in Brazil. He was very successful, winning his first 12 fights. In many of these events, he fought and won multiple times in a single night.
In 2010, his talent was noticed by the UFC, the world's biggest MMA organization. He won his first two UFC fights by submission, earning "Submission of the Night" awards for both. After a few tough losses, he decided to move to the featherweight division to face new challenges.
Rise Through the Ranks
From 2012 to 2017, Oliveira had many ups and downs. He showed his amazing submission skills, winning a fight with a rare "calf slicer" move, the first in UFC history. He also had exciting fights against top opponents like Frankie Edgar and Max Holloway.
In 2017, Oliveira moved back to the lightweight division. A year later, he joined the famous Chute Boxe Diego Lima gym to improve his striking skills. This change helped him a lot. He began a long winning streak, finishing his opponents one by one. In 2018, he broke the record for the most submission wins in UFC history.
Becoming the UFC Champion
By 2020, Oliveira was one of the top fighters in the world. After defeating Tony Ferguson, he earned a chance to fight for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship.
On May 15, 2021, at UFC 262, Oliveira faced Michael Chandler for the title. After a difficult first round, Oliveira came back and won by technical knockout in the second round. He became the new UFC Lightweight Champion and also set the record for the most finishes in UFC history.
He defended his title against Dustin Poirier in December 2021, winning by submission.
Post-Championship Fights
In May 2022, Oliveira was set to defend his title against Justin Gaethje. However, he missed the weight limit by half a pound, and the UFC stripped him of the title. This was a very controversial moment, as some people claimed the scale was not working correctly. Even though he couldn't win the belt, Oliveira won the fight by submission in the first round.
He later fought Islam Makhachev for the vacant title in October 2022 but lost the match. Oliveira bounced back with a big win over Beneil Dariush in June 2023. He lost a close split decision to Arman Tsarukyan in April 2024 but won a rematch against Michael Chandler in November 2024. In June 2025, he lost a championship fight against Ilia Topuria.
Fighting Style
Oliveira is known for his aggressive fighting style. He combines Muay Thai striking with his world-class BJJ skills. He pressures his opponents with punches, elbows, and knees.
His grappling is considered one of the best in the sport. He is a master of submissions and can finish a fight from almost any position. He is especially dangerous during scrambles and chaotic moments in a fight.
Personal Life
Oliveira still lives in his hometown of Guarujá and often gives back to his community. He started an institute called "ICBronxs" that gives local kids free education and jiu-jitsu training. For his charity work, he received the UFC's Forrest Griffin Community Award in 2025.
For a long time, Oliveira had poor eyesight and wore glasses. He once said he saw three opponents in the cage and would aim for the one in the middle. In 2022, he had corrective eye surgery and now has perfect vision. He also has a passion for harness racing with horses.
His nickname, "do Bronxs," means "from the Bronx." "Bronx" was a slang term for the poor neighborhoods, or favelas, where he grew up.
Championships and Accomplishments
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- UFC Lightweight Championship (One time, with one successful defense)
- Most finishes in UFC history (20)
- Most submission wins in UFC history (16)
- Most post-fight bonuses in UFC history (20)
- Most Performance of the Night bonuses in UFC history (13)
- 2025 Forrest Griffin Community Award
- ESPY Award
- 2022 Fighter of the Year
See also
In Spanish: Charles Oliveira para niños
- List of current UFC fighters
- List of male mixed martial artists
- List of UFC records
