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Charles Oliveira Almost Quit MMA After Ilia Topuria KO Loss: UFC Rio Post-Fight Press Conference

Originally posted on EssentiallySports
By Dushyant Patni | Last updated Oct 12, 2025 2:01 AM ET

Charles Oliveira’s story at UFC Rio wasn’t just about another submission win; it was about survival, not in the cage, but in his mind. Just months earlier, he’d been brutally knocked out by Ilia Topuria in the first round of their lightweight title fight at UFC 317. The punch that sent him crashing to the canvas didn’t just silence the crowd; it cast doubt on his future. Could ‘Do Bronx’ ever be the same again?

Fast-forward to Rio. In front of a roaring home crowd, Oliveira not only answered that question but erased it entirely. He choked out Mateusz Gamrot in Round 2 with the kind of ruthless precision that built his legend, his 21st finish (a company record) and 24th win inside the Octagon. Yet, behind the triumphant tears, Oliveira revealed a darker truth.

Charles Oliveira pulls back the curtain on the aftermath of the Ilia Topuria loss

Speaking through a translator at the post-fight press conference, Oliveira opened up like never before as he confessed, “Man, the moment I lost, and then I thought a lot about if that was the end. Man, I’ve already lived through so much, I’ve already won so much, so when something happens like that, you think about it.”

It wasn’t just self-doubt. It was the noise, the constant speculation, the online chatter, the feeling of being written off as he continued, “And I grabbed the phone to see what people were saying, but it was people telling me, you gotta be back, we love you, and then you started watching the videos.”

That moment of clarity changed everything. Oliveira realized that, despite the pain, he wasn’t finished, not yet. He described the mixed energy of his supporters, saying in the post-fight press conference, “Fifty percent create the hype because they want to surf that wave with me, and the other fifty percent really love you and are worried about you. But I wanted to be here. I wanted to fight. I wanted to come back.”

And come back he did. Against Mateusz Gamrot, he fought like a man possessed, calm, composed, and cruelly efficient. He shut down the Polish contender at every turn, reclaiming control not just of the fight, but of his career. Few athletes can fall that far, that fast, and climb back within months. But Charles Oliveira’s story has always been one of resilience.

From the favelas of São Paulo to becoming UFC champion, he’s weathered everything. Still, the Ilia Topuria knockout felt different. It wasn’t just a loss; it was the kind of defeat that haunts even legends. Yet, instead of retreating, Oliveira turned the fear into fuel. He returned to training at Chute Boxe Academy within weeks, telling MMA Fighting that, “I’m just training at Chute Boxe the same way I trained for the last fights. I’m fine, I’m happy, you know? What matters the most is you being happy…I wanted to fight in Rio. In front of my flag, in front of my crowd, for all the messages I’ve received from the Brazilian people. I had to do this fight.”

Fighters often talk about comebacks, but few admit how close they came to quitting. For ‘Do Bronx’, the journey back wasn’t just about proving he could win again. It was about rediscovering why he fought in the first place. And with the win at UFC Rio secured, he’s now eyeing a clash with a man who beat him back in 2015 for a rematch nearly ten years in the making!

‘Do Bronx’ takes aim at Max Holloway’s BMF crown after UFC Rio win

Fresh off his submission win over Mateusz Gamrot, Charles Oliveira made sure to make the moment count. The Brazilian crowd was still roaring when he took the mic and looked straight at UFC executive Hunter Campbell. He exclaimed, “Hey Hunter [Campbell], Charles Oliveira, and Max Holloway, ‘BMF’ let’s make that happen.”

Their first meeting ended abruptly. Back in 2015, a young Oliveira faced Max Holloway at UFC Fight Night 74. It was supposed to be a test of skill until fate intervened. In the very first round, Oliveira suffered a freak neck injury while attempting a takedown. Wincing in pain, he crumpled to the mat, unable to continue. Holloway was awarded the TKO victory, but there was no real fight that night, only confusion and concern.

Doctors later described it as a micro-tear in his esophagus, a rare and terrifying injury. Thankfully, Oliveira recovered without surgery, but the memory lingered. Nearly a decade later, that same man, now a former UFC champion, is ready to rewrite history. This time, both fighters have grown into icons. Holloway, the reigning BMF titleholder, has conquered featherweight and found new success at lightweight. Oliveira, with UFC Rio marking his comeback, remains one of the most feared submission specialists in the sport.

And so, the man once doubted, dismissed, and proclaimed to be nearly done just a few months ago, has proven he’s still a force to be reckoned with. Because if there’s one thing Charles Oliveira taught everyone at UFC Rio, it’s this: legends don’t fade when they fall, they rise, rebuild, and remind the world why they’re still here!

This article first appeared on EssentiallySports and was syndicated with permission.

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