The final PPV of the year for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC 269 boasted two title fights with champions finding themselves in drastically different circumstances.
In the co-main event, Amanda Nunes, the UFC’s lone remaining double-champ, returned to the bantamweight division for the first time in two years, defending her 135lb title against Julianna Pena. Despite her absence, during which time she focused on featherweight and welcomed a daughter with wife Nina into the world, the division remained barren, Pena earning a shot at gold off just a single win.
Even after all that time, the impact of Nunes clearing out the division had not lessened.
A very different landscape was to be found in the lightweight division. Charles Oliveira was set to defend his title for the first time at UFC 269, going up against former interim champ Dustin Poirier. Poirier was getting his second shot at the undisputed title, after coming up short against Khabib Nurmagomedov. Outside of Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Islam Makhachev, and Beneil Dariush remained viable title fight options — with names like Michael Chandler and (love him or hate him) Conor McGregor just a win or two away from a shot at gold.
Despite an impressive nine-fight win streak, Oliveira was being overlooked heading into the UFC 269 main event. He was looking to prove that was a dangerous mistake to make.
Following Saturday’s PPV event, tune in above for the UFC 269 post-fight press conference. A live stream can be found above.
