Charles Oliveira

Charles Oliveira da Silva (born 17 October 1989) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and third degree black belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner.

From humble origins, Oliveira was born in the favela of Vicente de Carvalho in the town of Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil on 17 October 1989.

At age 7, he was diagnosed with heart murmur and rheumatic fever, and told by a doctor that he couldn't play sports.

His parents decided instead to let him play sports and his condition healed over time.

At 12 years old, Paulo, a neighbor, introduced him to a Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym where trainer Roger Coelho gave free classes to low-income people.

His family helped fund his training by selling street snacks and discarded cardboard.

Oliveira trained hard and became São Paulo champion only two months after starting jiu-jitsu.

In 2004 Oliveira won the São Paulo championship a second time, the Copa Nação Jiu-Jitsu in 2005 and in 2006 won a total of 16 medals.

Oliveira started training Brazilian jiu-jitsu in his youth, achieving multiple championship titles before transitioning to MMA in 2007.

Oliveira currently competes in the Lightweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the former UFC Lightweight Champion.

Oliveira holds multiple UFC records, notably the most submission wins in the organization's history at 16, most finishes at 20 and most bonuses at 19.

As of May 10, 2022, he is #1 in the UFC lightweight rankings and as of March 12, 2024, he is #7 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.

In 2007, as a blue belt he became two-time CBJJE World Champion, winning silver the following year as a purple belt, and becoming 2008 CBJJE South American Champion.

Oliveira received all his belts from Coelho up until the brown rank.

By 2007 he started to steer his career to focus on MMA.

Oliveira began his career in 2007 in his home country of Brazil, compiling a record of 12–0, with six knockouts and five submissions.

On three separate occasions, Oliveira has compiled multiple wins on the same night.

His first bout was in the amateur MMA event Circuito Nacional de Vale-Tudo Amador ("National Amateur Vale-Tudo Circuit") against Rui Machado, Oliveira submitted him with an armbar 15 seconds into the first round.

In March 2008, Oliveira made his professional debut at the Predador Fight Championship promotion, where his master Jorge Patino had previously participated at Predator FC 6.

The event was the "Predator FC 9 – Welterweight Grand Prix", a one-night single-elimination tournament similar to the "Grand Prix" events held by Pride FC, where the competitors would have to fight three times to be crowned the champion.

In the first round, Oliveira defeated Jackson Pontes via submission (rear-naked choke), which advanced him to the second stage of the tournament.

Oliveira's second stage fight was against Viscardi Andrade.

In the second round, Oliveira won via TKO (punches) and advanced to the final round of the tournament.

Oliveira won the tournament by defeating Diego Braga via TKO (punches) in the first round of the fight.

Oliveira debuted at lightweight by defeating future UFC fighter Mehdi Baghdad in December 2008 at the first event of promotion "Kawai Arena".

After that he entered into another tournament at "Korea Fight", where he defeated Daniel Fernandes and Eliene Silva via KO and TKO, respectively.

Oliveira submitted three opponents in a row over the next few months (including Bellator veteran Alexandre Bezerra), and won a split decision over Eduardo Pachu.

He was awarded his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Ericson Cardoso and Jorge "Macaco" Patino in 2010.

Oliveira once again competed twice in one night, in February 2010, defeating Rosenildo Rocha via submission (rear-naked choke) in the first round and Diego Bataglia via KO (slam).

In January 2010, Oliveira was named as the third-best Brazilian prospect to watch in 2010, according to Sherdog.

Oliveira then signed for the UFC and made his debut against Darren Elkins.

This fight was originally scheduled for The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz Finale, but was rescheduled for UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko due to visa issues.

Oliveira defeated Elkins via submission (armbar) after 41 seconds of the first round.

Oliveira was taken down early by Elkins but quickly attempted a triangle choke, before transitioning to an armbar, forcing the tap out.

The submission earned him the Submission of the Night award.

In January 2020 Oliveira fought a grappling superfight at the MMA event SFT 20 against Lucas Barros from Demian Maia Jiu-Jitsu.

Oliveira and Barros fought with a jiu-jitsu gi in a cage under IBJJF rules.

Charles won by decision.

Oliveira was booked to compete against Cristiano Souza in the main event of Gold Talents BJJ 2 on August 6, 2023.

Fellow UFC veteran Renan Barão announced in July 2023 that he had a grappling match with Oliveira arranged for a future BJJ Stars event.