Summary
Charles focused before fighting in the UFC. Photo: Courtesy of Facebook/UFC
MMA legend Charles do Bronx is in the final stretch of preparation to headline another event for the sport's biggest company. This Saturday (7), in Las Vegas (USA), the Brazilian faces Max Holloway in the highly anticipated rematch for the 'BMF' belt (the company's toughest fighter). However, despite his experience, the former lightweight champion (up to 70,3 kg) still leaves fans worried when he enters the ring. Aware of this distrust, the veteran opened up and didn't mince words.
In an interview with the channel 'Laerte Viana na Área', Charles responded to criticism from fans and MMA professionals who question his fight IQ. This is one of the points that generates the most debate and apprehension, given that the athlete, a jiu-jitsu specialist and the greatest finisher in UFC history, often ignores his strength in combat to attack his opponents with everything he has in striking.
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Since the Hawaiian is one of the most dangerous strikers in MMA and relies on a high volume of strikes, fans, fearing that Do Bronx will struggle on his feet and be knocked out, are begging him to focus on grappling. However, the Brazilian has shown himself to be bothered by this perception of him, denying that the duel is a classic striker vs. grappler matchup and guaranteeing that he can not only exchange blows with Holloway, but also knock him out.
“I think people see it because Charles entered the UFC as a jiu-jitsu fighter. I think people focus too much on having to take him down, do jiu-jitsu, even though the guy doesn't have jiu-jitsu. People have to understand that the sport has evolved a lot and it's not as simple as it used to be. It's not like that anymore. Everyone's in MMA. Nobody's naive anymore,” said the athlete.
“Everyone defends takedowns, they have tricks on the ground, standing up. You see jiu-jitsu guys getting knockouts, striking guys getting submissions. So, it’s not a classic, the stand-up guy against the ground guy. I entered the UFC as a jiu-jitsu fighter, wanting to grapple in every way. But not anymore. I feel like an MMA fighter, a complete fighter. I know I have firepower in my hands and I can cause damage and knock out opponents.”
“I know I have a completely different style of Jiu-Jitsu, but it won't be a fight where Charles just wants to take me down. I don't see myself only doing that. I'm not just training takedowns. I'm training a little bit of everything and doing very well in everything. I've evolved a lot, so it will certainly be a great fight. For sure, my Jiu-Jitsu will be my Jiu-Jitsu, but my stand-up game has evolved a lot.”
“I saw several interviewers saying: 'Charles is going to give us a heart attack, he said he wants to knock us out, he posted a video of him striking.' Relax, guys. I'll go in wearing a kimono, belt tied, and when the fight starts, I'll sit down and play guard. That's not going to happen. That's not how it works. We're talking about MMA. MMA isn't like that, jumping into guard or just doing jiu-jitsu. It's not like that anymore.”
“The sport has evolved, but sometimes people talk about it in a way that isn't appropriate. It's MMA and I'm going to fight MMA. I know the path to get there and make the job happen. However, it's not an easy path, it's a difficult path. We're talking about a very tough guy, but the fight is MMA and I'm ready for it,” he concluded.
Reckoning
Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway faced off in the UFC in 2015, in the featherweight division (up to 65,8 kg). On that occasion, the Brazilian suffered an esophageal injury during the fight and was knocked out in the first round, in just over a minute. Visibly stronger mentally and physically, the athlete assures that, under normal conditions, the development of the fight, now at lightweight, will be totally different.
Charles' current situation
Charles Oliveira , 36, a former lightweight champion, is coming off a victory over Mateusz Gamrot in October. Currently, the MMA legend is ranked third in the division.
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