Charles Oliveira Says Lightweight Move Isn’t Necessarily Permanent
Charles Oliveira will be fighting former Bellator MMA Lightweight Champion Will Brooks at UFC 210.
The Brazilian is also expecting the birth of his first child, which he thinks could happen during UFC 210.
"Actually, 2016 wasn't a good year for me, as I didn't get any wins,” Oliveira said to Combate. “But I started to feel things would get better when I found out about the pregnancy. I'm very happy, this is a new chapter of my life and I'm sure I'll win and dedicate it to my daughter and my family. She is expected on April 8, the same day of UFC 210. If I fought because I loved the sport, before, now I'll fight and win to always dedicate them to my daughter."
Oliveira is hoping to have a better year than he did in 2016, where he went winless during a calendar year for the first time in his professional MMA career.
He will also be competing in the lightweight division against Brooks, but a permanent move to the division is something that may not be happening. He's had issues with making weight throughout his UFC career.
"I'm back at lightweight at least for this fight,” Oliveira said. “I was too young when I decided to fight professionally, I dropped to featherweight not too long ago, but I felt a big difference. I feel better at 145, but later on I'll add more muscle mass and I might have to stay at 155. I still have a long way to go, I'll have my arm raised by the end of the fight and then I'll talk to my coaches about whether or not I'll move back to featherweight. I always fought the toughest guys, I ask for them and I'll keep showing my aggression inside the Octagon."
UFC 210 takes place on Saturday, April 8 from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York with Daniel Cormier and Anthony Johnson headlining. Fightful will be providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
