Charles Oliveira def. Justin Gaethje by submission (RNC) at 3:22 of round 1.
Charles Oliveira submitted Justin Gaethje via RNC in the first round of the UFC 274 main event on Saturday, as the Brazilian took the first step on what he hopes will be his road back to the (now vacant) lightweight title.
UFC Vacant Lightweight Title
Oliveira, who was stripped of the belt on Friday for missing weight, is now No 1 contender in the division. At the weigh-ins, Oliveira weighed in at 155.5 pounds, half a pound over the divisional title limit.(110) as a result, upon commencement of the fight, Oliveira was officially stripped of the championship, and only Gaethje was eligible to win the title.
Oliveira, who holds the records for most finishes and most submission wins in UFC history, pounced at full force with no time to waste. The Brazilian took Gaethje’s back and considered his submission options, before locking in a rear naked choke and forcing the former interim champion to tap out in his home state of Arizona. The win also earned him the third place Crypto.com “Fan Bonus of the Night” award.
Beating Gaethje marked an 11th straight win for Oliveira, who also survived a knockdown against Michael Chandler to claim the vacant lightweight title last May and fought back from multiple knockdowns from Dustin Poirier to retain the title in December.
Who Will Oliveira Fight Next?
It is as yet unclear whom Oliveira will face for the again-vacant belt, though Islam Makhachev is a potential opponent for the Brazilian.
“Hey there is something here,” Oliveira said post-fight. “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.”
Attention swiftly turned to Oliveira’s next fight, where he will be looking to reclaim his title. The nature of his title loss will undoubtedly serve as motivation for the Brazilian, who was keen to call out Conor McGregor.
“Hey Conor McGregor, are you coming up or are you going to run away?”
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