AUSTIN, TEXAS: Charles Oliveira, a former lightweight champion, faced early criticisms in his UFC career, being labeled a "quitter" and hype job before finding his footing in the UFC's 155-pound weight class.
However, he encountered challenges in his first UFC fight and had difficulties gaining weight, causing skeptics to view him as an exciting yet inconsistent fighter. This win-loss streak continued for a number of years.
Joe Rogan and Paul Felder discuss Charles Oliveira
After a devastating TKO loss to Paul Felder, Charles Oliveira embarked on a remarkable 11-fight winning streak, marking a transformative phase in his career. Paul Felder and Joe Rogan discussed Charles Oliveira's metamorphosis from a quitter to a champion during an appearance on 'The Joe Rogan Experience.'
Rogan said, "He still is an interesting case because he was a guy who was kind of known as a guy who fell apart." Felder then added, "A quitter, a little bit."
However, 'Do Bronx' redeemed himself and is now, undoubtedly, one of the most popular and successful fighters on the roster. "He just turned a corner, and then he became the baddest motherf**ker in the weight class."
He further added, "Not just the baddest motherf**ker in the weight class, one of the best motherf**kers in the sport."
It is simple to comprehend where Rogan and Felder are coming from, given that Oliveira now holds a number of promotional records, including the most submission victories and finishes in UFC history.
Charles Oliveira withdrew from UFC 294
However, the main event of UFC 294 featuring Charles Oliveira is no longer available to fight fans as Oliveira had to withdraw. He was replaced by Alexander Volkanovski, the current UFC featherweight champion, for the event.
Now, 'Do Bronx' might have to consider taking on other opponents before getting another shot at the lightweight crown. But what specifically led him to leave the fight?
The Brazilian superstar suffered a serious cut during the fifth round of a recent sparring session, according to UFC CEO Dana White. Unfortunately, Oliveira didn't initially call the UFC and had other medical professionals sew up the cut.
White sounded frustrated by Oliveira's choice. But he thinks the UFC medical staff would have performed well enough to prevent Brazilian from abandoning the fight.
