Charles Oliveira was knocked unconscious for the primary time in his MMA profession when he fought and misplaced to Ilia Topuria in the primary occasion of UFC 317 on June 28, and he mentioned the previous featherweight champion was the one who hit him the toughest when in comparison with his earlier 46 fights.
“I’ve by no means been knocked out earlier than,” Oliveira advised Ag. Battle. “I’ve been knocked down earlier than, TKO’d, however had by no means been knocked out earlier than. This time, no. I didn’t know what had occurred, it was one thing new for me.”
“He’s undoubtedly the one who hit me the toughest,” he continued. “I’ve been hit earlier than by tremendous powerful guys like Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler, [guys] that knocked me down and damage me, however he actually hits arduous.”
Oliveira reveals he had no recollection of the combat as soon as it ended, and it felt bizarre to expertise that for the primary time.
“I requested many instances what had occurred, the place I used to be, you realize?” Oliveira mentioned. ‘Diego [Lima], my spouse and household [saying], ‘Chill out, breathe, we’ll discuss later.’ For actual, it by no means occurred like that earlier than. It’s upsetting, it sucks, but it surely’s a part of the sport.”
“Do Bronx” as soon as once more got here up brief in his try to reclaim the light-weight championship. And greater than the knockout itself, Oliveira mentioned what damage him essentially the most was not carry out the way in which he was planning to.
Oliveira mentioned his technique concerned entrance kicks, indirect kicks and calf kicks to maintain Topuria away, and never stand in entrance and on brief rage from the undefeated expertise. As a substitute, and for causes he can’t clarify, he fell in Topuria’s traps in Las Vegas.
“Every thing I skilled we didn’t do within the combat,” Oliveira mentioned. “I’ve been doing this for a few years and had by no means been knocked out that approach earlier than. It’s too sophisticated. … We’re speaking about MMA and it’s very unpredictable. He was joyful there and did a greater job and have become champion.”
Oliveira mentioned he nonetheless sees him again within the dialog for a shot on the UFC belt with “one, two or three wins” towards the appropriate names, however received’t take into consideration that in the mean time. He’ll take a while to journey for seminars after which resume coaching for a return to motion within the fourth quarter of 2025.
“November, early December, I wanna combat once more this 12 months,” Oliveira mentioned. “I need to placed on a great combat. I don’t know towards who, however that will be the timing.”
