Charles Oliveira is set to be honored for his work outside the cage.
During Saturday’s UFC Kansas City broadcast, promotion officials announced that Oliveira, the former UFC lightweight champ and current all-time submissions leader, would be awarded the 2025 Forrest Griffin Community Award. The award recognizes UFC athletes who undertake “exceptional volunteer and charity work,” as well as “the meaningful impact their efforts have on the community.”
The award will be presented as part of the 2025 UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony on June 26, with the proceeding streamed live on UFC Fight Pass.
Oliveira, known to fight fans as Charles Do Bronx (“Charles from the Bronx”), provides free arts, education, nutrition, and jiu-jitsu lessons to youth in Sao Paulo, Brazil through his Charles Do Bronx Institute.
“Charles is not only a great athlete, but he’s also an amazing role model who enjoys giving back to the community,” said UFC President and CEO Dana White in a press release announcing the award. “Charles does a great job of helping local youth in Sao Paulo by providing them with free education and jiu-jitsu training at his institute, and he’s directly helping them create a better life for themselves in the process. It’s an honor to present him with his award.”
