At UFC 294, Charles Oliveira came back to the octagon floor to submit Justin Gaethje in the first round.
After being labeled a ‘quitter’ by the American in the build-up to their fight, the Brazilian proved otherwise, diving deep to send Gaethje flying backwards before rushing on him and completing his 17th UFC submission.
Oliveira was stripped of his lightweight championship abruptly for missing weight by half a pound, and he seemed enraged, climbing over the cage to face UFC president Dana White after squeezing his opponent senseless.
Despite Oliveira’s protestations, White argued that the flamboyant 32-year-old is now the No. 1 contender and that he must win another fight to restore his title.
The scales given by the UFC the night before the weigh-ins were malfunctioning, according to Oliveira, and he was at his limit the night before what should have been a formality in the morning.
Because he weighed 155.5 pounds, the belt was removed from him. Justin Gaethje would have been the true champion if he had won, but it was yet another crushing defeat for ‘The Highlight.’
In his first championship defence, Gaethje was soundly defeated by Khabib Nurmagomedov, and another first-round exit here, this time in front of his home supporters, will be painful.