Charles Oliveira’s journey through the UFC lightweight division is one of the most remarkable redemption arcs in MMA history. Once labeled inconsistent and fragile, “Do Bronx” transformed himself into one of the most dangerous finishers the sport has ever seen. Combining lethal jiu-jitsu with improved striking and unbreakable resilience, Oliveira tore through the division’s elite to become champion—and defended his crown with heart and flair. Now, as he looks to reclaim the vacant lightweight title against Ilia Topuria at UFC 317, we revisit three of Oliveira’s most iconic performances that defined his legacy and solidified his place among the sport’s elite.

1. Statement Win Despite the Chaos – UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje

At UFC 274, Charles Oliveira delivered a breathtaking first-round submission win over Justin Gaethje in a wild, action-packed contest—just one day after being stripped of the title for missing weight. From the outset, the fight was chaos personified. Oliveira hurt Gaethje early, only to be dropped twice by Gaethje’s thudding hooks. But true to form, Oliveira remained composed under fire, continuing to press forward with sharp counters.

Midway through the round, Oliveira cracked Gaethje with a clean right hand that dropped him. Without hesitation, he pounced on the opportunity, taking Gaethje’s back and locking in a tight rear-naked choke at 3:22 of Round 1. The win marked his 11th straight victory and 21st UFC finish—extending his all-time record. While he walked away without the belt, the performance left no doubt that he was still the best lightweight on the planet.

2. Crowning Moment – UFC 262: Oliveira vs. Chandler

Oliveira’s crowning achievement came at UFC 262, where he claimed the vacant lightweight title with a dramatic comeback win over Michael Chandler. The first round was a rollercoaster: Oliveira opened strong with leg kicks and a threatening back take, but Chandler exploded with heavy punches, dropping Oliveira and nearly finishing the fight. The momentum seemed firmly in Chandler’s favor.

Then, just 19 seconds into Round 2, Oliveira landed a perfectly timed left hook that dropped Chandler to the canvas. He immediately followed up with a flurry of pinpoint strikes, forcing the stoppage and securing the TKO win. The emotional moment saw Oliveira collapse in tears as he finally captured UFC gold after more than a decade in the promotion—his 19th UFC win and a testament to perseverance, skill, and self-belief.

3. Grit and Greatness – UFC 269: Oliveira vs. Poirier

At UFC 269, Oliveira defended his lightweight belt for the first time in a high-stakes clash against Dustin Poirier. The fight began at a frenetic pace, with Poirier dropping Oliveira and landing clean, punishing shots in Round 1. Oliveira, however, showcased his trademark durability and pressure, refusing to fold under fire.

In Round 2, Oliveira flipped the script, dominating in the clinch and on the ground with suffocating top control and slicing elbows. Poirier began to fade under Oliveira’s pressure, and early in Round 3, the champion capitalized. He climbed onto Poirier’s back in a standing scramble and locked in a textbook rear-naked choke, forcing the tap at 1:02. The win cemented Oliveira’s reign and proved once again that he could overcome adversity and break elite opponents in the most unforgiving moments.