After beating Michael
Chandler for the second time in the co-main event of UFC 309,
UFC
309 revealed that he had torn two knee ligaments two weeks
before the fight.
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“I didn’t want to talk about that, because if I lose it sounds like
an excuse and if I win, it sounds like I’m overvaluing myself, but
unfortunately someone leaked,” Oliveira told UFC Fight Pass Brazil
reporter Evelyn Rodrigues, revealing that the possibility of
withdrawing from the fight had never been contemplated. “After I
tore these two ligaments, the doctor indicated I should go between
four and six weeks without training. I stopped training for the
last 15 days and just kept doing some work out in the gym. I knew
these fights would lead me back to a title shot, so there was no
way I would drop out.”
Oliveira also criticized referee Keith Peterson’s lack of attention
during the fight, during which his opponent committed several fouls
including a stream of hammerfists to the back of Oliveira’s head
during a critical fifth-round rally. “I know Chandler didn’t do it
on purpose, sometimes it happens in the heat of the fight, but the
referee is there to prevent fouls, and he didn’t do that at all. I
received many blows on my nape, I got my eye poked twice and also
my glove was grabbed. I indicated to the referee, but he did
nothing.”
In a postfight interview with Brazilian reporter Diego Ribas of
AgFight, Oliveira also revealed a curious detail about an
experience with Jon Jones.
“I’ve always admired Jones. He has always been very nice with me,
but this time we had the opportunity to get closer and when we left
the weigh-ins we got back to the hotel in the same van and as soon
as we got there he asked if I also belonged to Team Christ and
invited me to pray with him. It was such a great moment.”
Asked about his future plans to return to the octagon, Charles left
in the hands of his head coaches Diego Lima and Jorge
Patino. “I believe Islam [Makhachev] and [Arman] Tsarukyan must
fight in January, but I’ll leave that to my coaches Diego Lima and
Jorge ‘Macaco’ to decide. When they decide with UFC, I’ll be
ready.”