With a finish of Michael Chandler, Charles Oliveira will set the record for most career UFC stoppage wins
Saturday could be a big night for Charles Oliveira. With a win over Michael Chandler in the main event of the UFC 262 pay-per-view card, the Brazilian will claim the vacant UFC lightweight title. With a stoppage victory, Oliveira will pull one finish ahead of Donald Cerrone for most career stoppage wins in UFC history. Oliveira already holds the mark for most career submission wins. If Oliveira lands a double fight-night bonus, he’ll move into a tie with Cerrone for first for most career fight-night bonus awards.
With those accolades, it’s strange to think the 31-year-old has never fought for a UFC title.
Oliveira has his work cut out for him in Chandler. In 2020, the former three-time Bellator lightweight titleholder signed with the UFC as a free agent. Chandler made an impact with his new promotion in his UFC debut. In that contest, Chandler scored a first-round knockout win over Dan Hooker. That victory earned him the fight against Oliveira for the vacant title.
Oliveira began his UFC career as a lightweight in 2010, but after a three-fight winless stretch, he dropped to featherweight. Oliveira struggled with the weight cut to 145 pounds and in 2017 he returned to lightweight. “Do Bronx” went 1-1 in his first two contests back 1t 155. He then went on a seven-fight run where he finished each of his opponents. That stoppage run ended in December when he defeated former interim lightweight champ Tony Ferguson by one-sided decision.
Before Oliveira faces Chandler for the UFC lightweight crown, look at where he stands in the UFC record book.
UFC 262 takes place at Toyota Center in Houston, TX. The main card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+ and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+.