This previous Saturday, Charles Oliveira received again within the win column in an enormous manner, submitting Mateusz Gamrot in the primary occasion of UFC Rio. It was a reminder that whereas “Do Bronx” might not be the very best light-weight on the earth anymore, he’s nonetheless fairly rattling good. On prime of that, it was one other brick in Oliveira’s Corridor of Fame resume, which solely will get stronger because the years go on.
So on this week’s mailbag, let’s speak Oliveira traditionally, plus just a few different random tidbits.
Charles Oliveira or B.J. Penn
Hello Jed,
Large fan, and co-worker of yours over on MMA Combating (GREAT WEBSITE). Anyhow, a query was posed on the UFC Rio put up present: Whose profession would you fairly have, Charles Oliveira or BJ Penn? to see your ideas.
I listened to the UFC Rio post-show, and I used to be in love with this query. The comparability of Oliveira and Penn speaks to the character of success in MMA, maybe higher than any two different fighters might, as a result of each males are supremely achieved however in virtually the precise reverse methods of one another. So, who had the higher profession? It relies upon.
Let’s begin with Oliveira. I used to be extremely impressed along with his win on Saturday, because it confirmed, as soon as once more, that regardless of clearly not being at his finest anymore, “Do Bronx” nonetheless has loads of sport left. That’s unimaginable for a fighter who’s pushing 40 and has already spent 15 years within the UFC. Father Time is catching as much as Oliveira, however he’s not laying down on letting the previous man seize him simply but.
And that, in lots of respects, is the crux of Oliveira’s greatness, his longevity. For a few years, Do Bronx was a very good fighter and a enjoyable one, however not an awesome fighter. However he caught round and saved bettering, and finally, the whole lot fell into place. Out of the blue, Oliveira had the counting stats that include preventing so usually for greater than a decade, however then he additionally had actual achievement in his light-weight title run. And now, in his remaining act, he’s nonetheless placing up nice performances, which stands in stark distinction to Penn’s finish, which functionally eliminated him from GOAT conversations that he had been a fixture of for a decade, as a result of folks bear in mind the lengthy string of horrible losses on the finish.
On the opposite aspect, the promoting factors for B.J. Penn’s profession are as evident as they’re spectacular. Penn is an icon and pioneer of MMA, solely the second man to ever develop into a two-division champion (and lightweight heavyweight to heavyweight just isn’t remotely as spectacular as light-weight and welterweight) within the UFC, Penn was the best light-weight of all time for a few years (till the rise of Khabib Nurmagomedov) and, typically considered the very best pound-for-pound fighter on the earth for a time.
Oliveira can’t match any of these accolades (and his light-weight title run even has a slight asterisk, on condition that he was most likely by no means the precise finest light-weight on Earth, and he solely received to have a title reign as a result of Khabib Nurmagomedov retired following a private tragedy). Furthermore, for as beloved as Oliviera has develop into in recent times, few fighters in historical past have meant extra to the game and to the followers, and to his fellow fighters, than Penn has.
For a lot of his profession, Penn was your favourite fighter’s favourite fighter, each due to his skill and his mercurial nature. In lots of respects, Penn was the forerunner to Conor McGregor, unconcerned with the mundanity of a title reign, pushed by a special conception of preventing. That’s why he left the UFC and fought the hardest guys he might, together with Lyoto Machida! That kind of maverick nature undoubtedly damage his conventional resume of wins and losses, but additionally made him beloved on a scale Oliveira hasn’t cracked but.
Finally, the selection boils all the way down to this: Penn had greater highs and decrease lows, and is a extra important and traditionally vital fighter; Oliveira had the higher profession arc, extra good wins, and a number of other information. Which of these is healthier? It’s a matter of style, with no unsuitable reply. For me, I nonetheless favor Penn due to the highs and his historic significance, however I don’t fault anybody for selecting Do Bronx.
There’s no unsuitable option to eat this Reese’s.
Hey Jed, what’s your degree of concern that saving massive fights for the White Home card will noticeably water down the “numbered occasions” within the first half of 2026?
On a scale of 1-10, 10 being most involved, put me at a strong 3.
Don’t get me unsuitable, I do imagine the Large Occasions (how I’ll now be referring to the occasions previously referred to as PPVs) are going to get watered down, I simply don’t know that the White Home card would be the wrongdoer. Personally, I don’t imagine that card can have any title fights on it (and it shouldn’t) and can as an alternative characteristic a bevy of the largest personalities — the occasion equal of the “BMF” title.
What I’d be extra involved about is the non-Large Occasions within the lead-up to UFC White Home. Final yr, the PPVs surrounding UFC 300 weren’t that unhealthy; what was unhealthy was the whole lot else, as a result of there are solely so many headliners and so many have been getting used for the tremendous occasion. I anticipate A LOT of unhealthy heavyweight predominant occasions subsequent spring because the promotion builds in direction of UFC White Home.
Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones, and Alex Pereira
Are the UFC going to do Aspinall soiled and guide Jones v Pereira and go away Tom preventing a Alexander Volkov or Jailton Almeida, if that’s the case what does it do to the title’s legitimacy and Tom’s legacy?
No, they aren’t “going to do Aspinall soiled,” as a result of they haven’t any management over this example. Jon Jones is NOT going to combat Tom Aspinall. He by no means was. So not reserving Tom a combat that can’t be booked isn’t doing him soiled. Jones vacated the title (which was paper as hell anyway), and Tom is the undisputed champion. They’ve accomplished as properly by him as might be accomplished.
However Jones vs. Pereira can be booked, and so it is going to. It’s a combat each males need, and one which the fan base and broader public will gravitate towards. As a result of Jones isn’t the champion, it does nothing to decrease Aspinall. In truth, it actually simply boosts him, proving the purpose that Jones by no means wished the Tom smoke. Aspinall will get over with out having to throw a punch. In the meantime, Jones and Pereira can combat their battle meaning nothing and the whole lot. Everyone wins.
And as for Tom having to combat the winner of Volkov vs. Almeida, that’s his job. He’s the heavyweight champion of the world; he’s there to defend the title. Jon Jones by no means cared about that, and so he was unhealthy at his job. Tom is the champion we deserve.
Thanks for studying, and thanks to everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you’ve any burning questions on issues a minimum of considerably associated to fight sports activities? Then you definately’re in luck, as a result of you’ll be able to ship your tweets to me, @JedKMeshew, and I’ll reply my favourite ones! Doesn’t matter in the event that they’re topical or insane, simply as long as they’re good. Thanks once more, and see y’all subsequent week.
