Charles Oliveira Shares Emotional Exchange With Father

Originally posted on BoxingNews.com | Last updated Mar 6, 2026 3:32 AM ET

In behind-the-scenes footage, former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira was seen breaking down in tears during a powerful motivational exchange with his father in Brazil.

As Oliveira prepares to travel to Las Vegas for his BMF title rematch against Max Holloway this Saturday, March 7, his father—the man Charles calls his ultimate hero—offered a final, tearful directive: “Be a warrior.”

In the viral clip, Oliveira’s father is seen holding Charles’ face between his hands that brought the fighter to tears. He reminded Charles of their “humble beginnings” and the legacy that saw a kid from the favelas of Guarujá rise to become a lightweight champion in 2021. Oliveira has stated that if he captures the BMF title this weekend, his father will be the first person to wear it.

It has been 11 years since his first encounter with Holloway, a 2015 bout that ended in tragedy when Oliveira suffered a neck and shoulder injury just 90 seconds into the fight. While Holloway is the betting favorite (-235), Oliveira (+190) is looking to leverage his record-breaking finishing ability.

The Moment

❤️Charles Oliveira is in tears as his father motivates him to get a victory over Max Holloway at #UFC326:

“The difficulty really comes for us to reach the purpose, son. We have to be very tough.

Nothing was easy for us, so let’s be a warrior one more time.”

(via… pic.twitter.com/3uHnz1tVDZ
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) March 4, 2026

In order to do that, Charles will have to be at his best. He revealed that his resume has prepared him for the very best, stating that he has faced tougher challenges than Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. While Charles lost to both fighters, the experience from those bouts will no doubt prepare him to face Holloway. Looking back at his career, Oliveira was satisfied with his resume.

“Each and every one of us has their moments and their eras. You talk about Khabib, who basically just stepped away from the game undefeated. Islam is making history as a two-division champion. But when you look at the resume, the names, the wins, the records, and what I’ve been through, I believe that my resume is the best,” Oliviera stated

This article first appeared on BoxingNews.com and was syndicated with permission.

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