The former champion (Charles Oliveira) expressed an emphatic message in his RNC first-round submission over Gaethje in Phoenix

Location: Kennedy Space Center, FL

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Photo by: nypost

Charles Oliveira may not currently be the UFC lightweight champion, but there is absolutely no question about who is the best lightweight the world over. Oliveira got a deep RNC submission over Justin Gaethje in a violent sugar rush in UFC 274 on Saturday night, May 7th.

Fight breakdown

As usual, during this lightweight title fight, Oliveira didn’t look good in the opening moments. Gaethje even dropped Oliveira twice in the opening round: first, with a right uppercut and then with a left hook, two powerful blows. Gaethje was wise to not engage with Oliveira on the ground and welcomed him to his feet to hopefully rain down more blows; however, this strategy did not go in Gaethje’s favor. His unwillingness to go for the ground-and-pound led to his eventual tap. “Do Bronx” found his footing and responded with unyielding pressure with knees, flying knees, a jumping front kick, and combination boxing. Oliveira found a right hand that knocked Gaethje down. Oliveira instantly marked his domain on the ground by transitioning from a rear-naked choke (RNC) to armbar to triangle armbar before ratcheting in a devastating RNC that forced “The Highlight” to tap.

The most dangerous finisher in the UFC strikes again 💥

[ @CharlesDoBronxs | #UFC274 ] pic.twitter.com/E0EgLi71A2

— UFC (@ufc) May 8, 2022

Oliveira: Stripped of his title

UFC president Dana White not too surprisingly, was absent from UFC 274 for his longstanding role of securing the UFC title around the winner’s waist. Just days before, the start of the week, to be exact, Oliveira, the defending UFC lightweight champion, was stripped of his title after missing weight by only a half-pound. Rumors abounded from multiple professional fighters this week leading up to the fight that inaccurate scales provided to the fighters in advance essentially caused the weight issues. Oliveira is no longer the UFC lightweight champion, no matter what side you’re on as of last week. However, don’t worry! “Do Bronx” will compete for the lightweight title again in his next fight…. Don’t miss this one fans!!

“Hey there is something here,” Oliveira taunted during his post-fight interview with help from the designated translator. “This is a message to the entire division. I am problem for the entire division. Look at this team, look at me. I am the enlightened. That is my title. It should be here.”

“Hey Conor McGregor, are you coming up or are you going to run away?”

Oliveira… winning streak to 11

After this last weekend, Oliveira has extended his winning streak to 11 and has defeated Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Kevin Lee, Michael Chandler, and many others during this impressive streak. The only fly in the ointment, which is crazy to say, is a unanimous decision win over Tony Ferguson back in December of 2020.

White: “He’s the guy”

White, despite being absent, later confirmed that Oliveira would fight for the title in his next showing in the octagon. According to White’s comments, he has no doubt that Oliveira is the uncrowned champion of the lightweight division. Unfortunately, rules are rules at the highest level of professional fighting.

“He’s the guy,” White expressed to reporters at the post-fight press conference. “He didn’t make weight. We have rules. He didn’t make the weight. The belt is vacant, but I’m sure in the minds of the media and the fight fans, Oliveira is the champion. But technically, he is the number one contender now.”

Elsewhere on the Octagon

Looking at other victories over the weekend. Carla Esparza won the women’s strawweight title after nearly eight years away from the top. The “Cookie Monster” bested Rose Namajunas with points from two of the three judges’ scorecards to take home the title she first won in 2014. Last but certainly not least, Michael Chandler landed one of the most brutal knockouts in recent UFC memory with his front kick finish of Tony Ferguson.

UFC 274 card and results

• Charles Oliveira def. Justin Gaethje via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)

• Carla Esparza def. Rose Namajunas (c) via split decision (47-48, 49-46, 48-47)

• Michael Chandler def. Tony Ferguson second-round knockout (front kick)

• Ovince Saint Preux def. Mauricio Rua via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)

• Randy Brown def. Khaos Williams via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

• Francisco Trinaldo def. Danny Roberts via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-26, 30-27)

• Macy Chiasson def. Norma Dumont via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)

• Brandon Royval def. Matt Schnell via first-round submission (guillotine choke)

• Blagoy Ivanov def. Marcos Rogerio De Lima via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

• Andre Fiahlo def. Cameron Vancamp via first-round TKO (punches)

• Tracy Cortez def. Melissa Gatto via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

• CJ Vergara def. Kleidison Rodrigues via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

• Loopy Godinez def. Ariane Carnelossi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)

• Journey Newson def. Fernie Garcia via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

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Oss