Charles Oliveira was forced to go to lightweight after multiple failed cuts to featherweight and that proved to be a smart decision, as he started a legendary run towards the 155-pound championship in the UFC.
Years later, he still hasn’t given up on a return to his original weight class.
“Do Bronx” faces off with Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 326, battling for the BMF title on March 7 in Las Vegas a decade after they met at 145 pounds, and he doesn’t rule out cutting extra 10 pounds if his dream comes to fruition in 2026.
“Sometimes I think about talking to the bosses and dropping to 145, but I don’t know if I can make 145 anymore,” Oliveira said during a Q&A session with fans Thursday night in Brazil (h/t Canal Encarada). “I don’t know… I think moving up to 170 would be easier. I’m not sure I can make 145 anymore. If there were a fight with Conor McGregor, something good for my legacy and my story, that would be cool, but the full focus right now is lightweight. Win now and get another shot at the title.”
Oliveira said “my entire focus” is the lightweight division, beating Holloway and then challenging for the lightweight gold against the winner of Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje — or whoever else.
The 36-year-old Brazilian revealed he goes all the way up to 185 pounds a month after fighting at lightweight, but is confident that he could make 145 pounds again if given “three or four months” to prepare. Oliveira admitted that moving up to welterweight would be “easier” if he just wants a second UFC title, but he would rather go down to 145.
“I think I can still make 145,” Oliveira said. “If it’s for the title… I don’t know if it was a dream I just had or something from my imagination. I win the [BMF] belt now, I fight for the [lightweight] title at the end of the year, then I give up both titles and drop to 145 to fight for that belt. But I don’t know if I was dreaming or just going crazy. I don’t know. We’ll see.”
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