Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira directed sharp criticism at fellow fighters this week, taking aim at what he described as a culture of excuses and misplaced bravado in mixed martial arts.
Oliveira (35-11) was scheduled to headline UFC Rio in October against Rafael Fiziev, but an injury forced Fiziev out of the bout and left Oliveira without an opponent. In the aftermath, several lightweights took to social media to campaign for the short-notice opportunity.
Oliveira, however, dismissed their efforts. In a video posted to his Instagram stories, the former champion openly criticized those would-be replacements, putting the division on blast.
“Everybody knows my UFC Rio fight is off. But don’t fall for the talk of these guys out there (saying) ‘I’m here, I’ll go,’ because the UFC is calling and they’re all saying, ‘Oh, there’s not enough time to make weight. Oh, I can’t.’ They’re posting this on the internet to get hype,” Oliveira said.
“Stop it, it’s not a good look. I saw one saying this, another saying that, but when the UFC calls, what do they say? ‘Oh, I can’t. I got belly ache. I broke a finger. I hurt my hand.’ Enough with that, it’s not a good look.”
He didn’t mention anybody specifically, but it’s clear Oliveira is fed up with the fake bravado from the lightweight division.
“My opponent got hurt, then 10 guys show up saying they would fight. So far, every time the UFC calls ‘Let’s fight?’ (they go) ‘I can’t.’ So stop with that because it’s not a good look. Do you want fame? Do something else. Don’t come saying you’ll fight when it’s a lie, OK?”
