Why Charles Oliveira Might Regret Fighting Rafael Fiziev

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The UFC is set to return to Rio, Brazil, in October this year, and Charles Oliveira features in the main event.

The Brazilian’s homecoming bout will be against the ever-dangerous Rafael Fiziev. The fight is set for five rounds, with many predicting it won’t reach the final buzzer.

After the news broke, Oliveira took to his Instagram to share his delight with his fans.

He said: “So guys, I’m very very happy about this, I am counting on the positive energy from all of you. Let’s be together there, right?

“It’s been a long time since I fought in Brazil, and being able to fight again in Brazil is very important to me.”

Oliveira is a fan favorite in the UFC. But fighting on home turf might be blinding supporters to the real risks of what could happen when the cage door shuts on October 11th.

Oliveira Returns Too Soon After A Knockout Loss

Oliveira’s scheduled bout is to take place less than four months after he got brutally knocked out by Ilia Topuria at UFC 317.

When a fighter suffers a knockout loss, they usually receive an automatic medical suspension of 60 days. This includes no contact training for at least 30 days.

Although doctors have cleared Oliveira to fight again, most fighters take up to a year to return to the octagon after getting knocked unconscious.

Many fear Oliveira is returning too soon to fight Fiziev. But one fighter in particular shows that no matter how good you are, recovering to full health in these situations is a must.

Oliveira Risks Repeating Volkanovski’s Misstep

Charles Oliveira is a seasoned UFC veteran, and has been in the company for over a decade. However, every fighter has a limit. With Charles’ chin being recently cracked, we may have to brace for more heartbreak.

Alexander Volkanovski came close to double-champ status after going five rounds with then-lightweight champion Islam Makachev.

After narrowly losing by decision earlier that year, Volkanovski accepted a short-notice rematch against Makhachev and was knocked out in the first round. Despite the setback, he returned to the Octagon just four months later, a recovery timeline similar to what Oliveira is now following.

Alexander Volkanovski Opponents	Result	Date
Islam Makhachev	Loss – Decision	Feb 2023
Yair Rodriguez	Win – Ground Strikes	Jul 2023
Islam Makhachev	Loss – Head Kick	Oct 2023
Ilia Topuria	Loss – Right Hook	Feb 2024

Volkanovski’s return came too soon, as he was knocked out cold by the same man who just put away Oliveira in Topuria. Volkanovski then took a year out of competition to recover.

Oliveira has a big chance to prove doubters wrong and get back in the title mix. But only time will tell if he is returning prematurely.