Michael
Oliveira has no intention of following the growing trend of
welterweights moving up to middleweight.
Fresh off an impressive
Ultimate Fighting Championship debut in Serbia, the unbeaten
Brazilian told Sherdog he plans to spend the remainder of his
career competing at welterweight despite carrying significantly
more weight outside camp.
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UFC newcomer credits veteran specialist Rogerio Camoes
Oliveira, who improved to 10-0 and recorded his ninth knockout
victory at
UFC Belgrade, acknowledged that making the welterweight limit
is demanding. However, he said the process is manageable with the
help of nutrition and weight-cut specialist Rogerio Camoes.
“I think because I arrived late to the weigh-in, a lot of people
assumed I had trouble making weight,” Oliveira told Sherdog. “The
odds in my favor even dropped, but the truth is everything is
planned. I make 77 kilograms (170 pounds) without much difficulty,
mainly because I work with Rogerio Camoes. He has worked with
Anderson
Silva, Ronaldo
Souza and Rafael
Cavalcante. He knows exactly what he’s doing.”
Although Oliveira entered the Octagon at just over 90 kilograms
after making the welterweight non-title limit, he dismissed any
suggestion that he could eventually follow fighters such as
Khamzat
Chimaev to middleweight.
“The plan is to stay at welterweight until the end of my
career—another nine or 10 years—without any issues,” Oliveira
said.
The Brazilian also revealed that he is targeting a November
return.
“I’m planning to come back in November, but if the UFC calls, we
will be ready,” the
Dana White’s Contender Series signee added.