The main event of UFC 317 , Charles do Bronx, didn't have a dream night when he had the opportunity to fight for the lightweight title (up to 70,3kg) again, seeking to reclaim the throne that once belonged to him. Still in the first round, the Brazilian was knocked out by Ilia Topuria and ended up losing his chance to impose himself against the Spanish-Georgian fighter.
Weeks after the bitter episode, Do Bronx opened up and spoke about his technical error during the match, admitting that he froze while waiting for his rival's mistake.
“It’s crazy stuff. Sometimes you train like crazy up there and you go and you can’t do it, and sometimes you’re up there and what you were supposed to do, you didn’t do because you had to change the game. I didn’t have the opportunity to do either, I didn’t have the opportunity to try to do what I wanted to do or to change the game up there. I just planted it, I think I waited for him to do something, which was that hand of his on top, so I could connect my strikes,” Charles declared to Fighting Mode TV.
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Following his statement, the athlete surprised everyone by confessing that he considered retiring after the first knockout he suffered in his career and highlighted what motivated him to immediately change his mind.
"And to be honest, when I left, I didn't even know what had happened (due to the knockout), or anything. I sat there and after everything that had happened, I asked Diego a lot if I was going to fight or not, something I had never experienced. One of the first things I had the opportunity to say was: 'It's over, it's over for me. I think it's over.'"
"And they said I should just rest, but I didn't want to. I wanted to stay on the phone, I wanted to understand. And then came the timing of the loving embrace. There were a bunch of people crying over video: 'Just rest, you'll be back,' 'You don't need to prove anything to anyone,' 'The champion's name is still Charles Oliveira.' That kept me motivated, the night went by, and I was breathing," he concluded.
Charles do Bronx is a former UFC champion. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFC India
Currently ranked third in the lightweight division, Do Bronx still dreams of a chance to become champion again. In recent statements, the Brazilian highlighted his desire to face Max Holloway for the BMF belt next and assured that his managers are already in talks with the UFC to arrange his next appearance before the end of the year.
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