UFC’s Wendell Oliveira not allowed to keep ‘War Machine’ nickname in the Octagon

BRASILIA, Brazil — Wendell Oliveira was planning to keep to be called “War Machine” on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 51, but that won’t happen.

During Friday’s official weigh-ins at the Nilson Nelson gymnasium in Brasilia, Brazil, Oliveira was announced as “The Machine,” and UFC officials confirmed to MMAFighting.com that he had to change his nickname.

“I won’t change my nickname because I’m the real ‘War Machine,’” Oliveira told MMAFighting.com on Thursday, before knowing that he would have to.

Oliveira makes his UFC debut against Santiago Ponzinnibio in the main card of UFC Fight Night 51, which airs live on Fight Pass.

BRASILIA, Brazil — Wendell Oliveira was planning to keep to be called “War Machine” on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 51, but that won’t happen.

During Friday’s official weigh-ins at the Nilson Nelson gymnasium in Brasilia, Brazil, Oliveira was announced as “The Machine,” and UFC officials confirmed to MMAFighting.com that he had to change his nickname.

“I won’t change my nickname because I’m the real ‘War Machine,’” Oliveira told MMAFighting.com on Thursday, before knowing that he would have to.

Oliveira makes his UFC debut against Santiago Ponzinnibio in the main card of UFC Fight Night 51, which airs live on Fight Pass.