Las Vegas — Brazilian bantamweight Vinicius Oliveira headlines his first UFC card after just four fights in the promotion when he takes on Mario Bautista at UFC Vegas 113.
It’s a match-up Oliveira (23-3) is liking, one he calls a “good choice,” if not for the reason you might expect.
“I think the UFC made a good choice, a good match-up. Because he’s a boring fighter, and I think the UFC wanted to put him out,” suggested Oliveira during Wednesday’s UFC Vegas 113 media day. “And he [will give me] the chance to put him out.”
Oliveira does believe a finish will be forthcoming. “Sure, the first round.”
“Lok Dog” has never gone five rounds in his career; he has been scheduled for 25 minutes, but has never needed it. Asked about what sort of changes a five-round fight brings, Oliveira said there were none.
“I don’t bring no changes. I’ll be myself, I’ll be my all, I’m the same Lok Dog as ever, the same style, Lok Dog style,” stated Oliveira. “I’m trying to [move] forward inside the cage every single second. I’m looking for the TKO in the first round like ever. The same Lok Dog style.”
Past Saturday’s fight with Bautista, who is ranked inside the UFC’s bantamweight top 10, Oliveira sees a big 2026 playing out for him. Including a title shot, when all is said and done.
“I see myself to the end of the year fighting for the belt for sure. But before that, I’m gong to fight on Top 5, after this fight I’m going to put on a great performance for the audience. Then, to the middle of the year, I’m going to fight against a top 5 in the rankings. It doesn’t matter who,” Oliveira predicted. “Maybe I’ve got some names in my mind, like two names I would like to fight so much at the White House. Maybe if it is possible, it’s only two guys in the rankings in the top five who are able to fight there. It doesn’t matter who, but to the middle of the year I’m going to fight again. This year, I’m going to fight for the belt against anyone. Doesn’t matter.”
The short time frame might be related to his weight cut. Oliveira had 30 pounds to cut as of Saturday. “I need to lose a lot of kilos, I used to do that, but I don’t know how many times I’m going to stay in this division. So I’ve got to plan to get the belt faster, then move up,” the 30-year admitted, adding that he felt “really tired” and “sick” following past weight cuts.
This time around is a bit better. “I put out the sugar, so I think it’s making be better than the last [weight cut]. But the suffering is the same. I think tomorrow, on Thursday, I need to lose six or seven kilos.”
Still, it sounds like featherweight will be in the cards at some point. Before that, there’s the goal of a belt at 135 of course. Olvieira has called out both Sean O’Malley and Umar Nurmagomedov in the past, and may need to go through one or both.
“I think the fight, me against Umar, will not happen because he’s afraid of me. He’s run away from me like a demon runs away from a curse.” Maybe, added Oliveira, he’ll get O’Malley some day.
Watch the full UFC Vegas 113 media day appearance by Vinicius Oliveira above.
