Charles Oliveira certainly didn’t fight like a man who had no chance of winning a belt.
Oliviera (33-8, 21-8 UFC) won his 11th consecutive bout in the UFC 274 headliner, submitting Justin Gaethje (23-4, 6-4 UFC) with a rear-naked choke 3:22 into the first round of their lightweight clash at the Footprint Arena in Phoenix, Ariz., on Saturday night. Because Oliveira missed weight by 0.5 pounds, the 155-pound title will remain vacant. However, “Do Bronx” is assured a spot in the next championship bout by virtue of his victory.
Oliveira, who now ranks fifth in promotion history wjtb 21 career victories, was defiant in the aftermath of his latest effort.