Charles Oliveira Ready For Will Brooks, Return To Featherweight Possible
Charles Oliveira Ready For Will Brooks, Return To Featherweight Possible
Savvy grappling ace Charles Oliveira wants to defeat Will Brooks then return to compete at featherweight.
For FloCombat via AG.Fight
Charles Oliveira is heading back to the lightweight division this Saturday against Will Brooks at UFC 210 in Buffalo, NY.
The return back up in weight comes after the Brazilian failed to reach the featherweight limit for two of his past three fights. So, does this move mean that "Do Bronx" will stay at 155 pounds permanently? Not necessarily.
Oliveira said he doesn't see himself far from the featherweight division while insisting that he wasn't forced to move up in weight by the UFC. In the Brazilian's view, featherweight is where the playing field is the most even for him in terms of strength and size.
"At [145 pounds] you have a lot more weight to lose, but at the time of the fight, I fight the same," Oliveira said. "I'm more or less the same weight and the strength is the same. At [155 pounds] I suffer less to lose [the weight], but the opponents are a lot stronger and have more knockout power. Featherweight is the right division for me to continue fighting.
"I want to do this (lightweight) fight, and then I'll sit down with my coaches to decide what's best. I, Charles Oliveira, I really want to go back to featherweight again. That's where I think I get along and where it's fair to be fighting. I focus on this fight, and then we'll see what it will do."
Oliveira also talked about his opponent's previous fight, when Brooks lost to Alex Oliveira by knockout. In the other Oliveira's mind, that fight set the blue print on how to defeat the former Bellator champion.
"Brooks is a tough guy; he deserves all the respect and he's experienced," Oliveira said. "In the fight, Alex used the right strategy. He always stuck to the grid. There was a story that Brooks was hurt, too, but Alex choose the right strategy and this can be a way (to win against Brooks): pressing, grinding and not giving (him) space."
UFC 210 will feature a main event fight between Daniel Cormier and Anthony Johnson, who will rematch for the light heavyweight belt. Brooks versus Oliveira will kick off the night's main card.
Charles Oliveira is heading back to the lightweight division this Saturday against Will Brooks at UFC 210 in Buffalo, NY.
The return back up in weight comes after the Brazilian failed to reach the featherweight limit for two of his past three fights. So, does this move mean that "Do Bronx" will stay at 155 pounds permanently? Not necessarily.
Oliveira said he doesn't see himself far from the featherweight division while insisting that he wasn't forced to move up in weight by the UFC. In the Brazilian's view, featherweight is where the playing field is the most even for him in terms of strength and size.
"At [145 pounds] you have a lot more weight to lose, but at the time of the fight, I fight the same," Oliveira said. "I'm more or less the same weight and the strength is the same. At [155 pounds] I suffer less to lose [the weight], but the opponents are a lot stronger and have more knockout power. Featherweight is the right division for me to continue fighting.
"I want to do this (lightweight) fight, and then I'll sit down with my coaches to decide what's best. I, Charles Oliveira, I really want to go back to featherweight again. That's where I think I get along and where it's fair to be fighting. I focus on this fight, and then we'll see what it will do."
Oliveira also talked about his opponent's previous fight, when Brooks lost to Alex Oliveira by knockout. In the other Oliveira's mind, that fight set the blue print on how to defeat the former Bellator champion.
"Brooks is a tough guy; he deserves all the respect and he's experienced," Oliveira said. "In the fight, Alex used the right strategy. He always stuck to the grid. There was a story that Brooks was hurt, too, but Alex choose the right strategy and this can be a way (to win against Brooks): pressing, grinding and not giving (him) space."
UFC 210 will feature a main event fight between Daniel Cormier and Anthony Johnson, who will rematch for the light heavyweight belt. Brooks versus Oliveira will kick off the night's main card.