Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

UFC Champ says Charles Oliveira would’ve had ‘rough’ fight against original UFC Rio opponent

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow
By Christopher De Santiago | Last updated Oct 12, 2025 6:37 PM ET

Charles Oliveira made it look easy at UFC Rio.

The former UFC Lightweight Champion went from fighting a top striker to a fellow grappler in the five-round main event of UFC Rio on Saturday night.

Oliveira needed only two rounds to submit #8-ranked contender Mateusz Gamrot, who stepped in as a short-notice replacement when others declined.

The winner by rear-naked choke, Oliveira holds the record for most submissions and finishes in UFC history.

Following the submission win at home, a reigning UFC champion claims Oliveira would’ve had a much tougher challenge with his original opponent Rafael Fiziev.

Alexander Volkanovski says Rafael Fiziev would’ve landed on Charles Oliveira

Rafael Fiziev suffered an injury weeks out from UFC Rio, taking him out of his highly-anticipated main event matchup against Oliveira.

Fiziev is a talented Muay Thai striker with a takedown defense rate of 90%.

UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski says that fighting Fiziev 105 days after getting knocked out by Ilia Topuria wasn’t Oliveira’s best idea.

“I thought [Gamrot] was a much better match up for him than Rafa,” Volkanovski said of Oliveira’s win on his YouTube channel.

“When I heard he was turning around that quick after a big knockout against Rafa, he was meant to fight Rafa now, three months after.

“Not the best idea, against someone like that,” Volkanovski added.

Fiziev letting the hands fly early in round 1! #UFCSingapore pic.twitter.com/Ea1w0ycPry
— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2019

“I think Gamrot was a better option where he doesn’t have to worry about the KO threat as much. The guy’s gonna grapple and, obviously, having a full camp, he thought he’d be okay wherever that fight went.

“But with Rafa, Rafa would have been good in the scrambles,” Volkanovski said of Fiziev.

“Would have been landing on him for sure, and you would have had to see him if his chin would hold up.

“That’s why it would have been a rough one for him if he was fighting Rafa,” the champ said of Oliveira’s chances against Fiziev.

The ship has likely sailed on Charles Oliveira vs. Rafael Fiziev

Fiziev has won one out of his last four fights.

Fiziev is currently ranked #10 in the world after defeating Ignacio Bahamondes in his last fight at UFC Baku in June.

While he had hoped to fight Oliveira at UFC Rio, there’s a real chance the promotion moves on from rebooking Oliveira vs. Fiziev, especially now that Max Holloway is in the picture.