Charles Oliveira hasn’t celebrated a win since June 2012, and he plans to make Andy Ogle pay for his recent setbacks at UFC Fight Night 36.
“Do Bronx” enters the Octagon on Feb. 15 in Jaragua do Sul, Brazil, following back-to-back losses to Cub Swanson and Frankie Edgar, but counts on his positive record in his native country to get back to the win column.
Oliveira is 11-0 when fighting in Brazil, and the last couple times he competed in his home soil was in Porto Belo, 90 miles away from Jaragua do Sul. On that night, he finished Rosenildo Rocha and Diego Bataglia to win the Warriors Challenge lightweight tournament in 2010.
“My dream was always to compete outside of Brazil, and I have had many opportunities,” Oliveira told MMAFighting.com. “UFC returned to Brazil and I wanted to be part of it, but they never game me a fight here. I finally got it, and I’m thrilled to fight in Jaragua do Sul. I trained a lot to do my best inside the Octagon and return with a win.
“The last time I fought in Brazil was in Santa Catarina, pretty close to Jaragua do Sul, so I’m happy to fight here again.”
Oliveira signed with the UFC after a pair of wins in Brazil, and impressive submission victories over Darren Elkins and Effrain Escudero quickly put him against some of the best 155-pounders in the UFC roster. Losses to top contenders Jim Miller and Donald Cerrone made him cut down to featherweight, and he’s ready for another fresh start against Ogle.
“If he makes a mistake, I will submit him,” he said. “I’m also working a lot on my striking and I’ll be ready to knock him out if I need to. I’ll do my best to get out with a win. I’ll finish the fight.
“He’s a great fighter and it’s going to be an amazing fight. May the best man win, and that the best man is me.”
“Do Bronx” hasn’t fought since last July. He was expected to take on Jeremy Larsen at UFC 166 last October, but had to pull out of the card with an injury.
“We made a few mistakes in the past,” he said. “I hurt my knee before fighting Jim Miller and Cub Swanson and I decided to fight despite the injury, and paid for this mistake. I’ll never fight with an injury again. I have to be smart now.”
Oliveira has only lost to top contenders in his 4-4, 1 no-contest run under the Zuffa banner, and he feels it is part of his path to the gold.
“I could have just stayed in Brazil and defeated everybody, but I want to be considered one of the best,” he said. “I don’t let this pressure control me. I fight to be the best.”