Charles Oliveira is making his long-awaited return to Brazil, and he’s not taking an easy route. The former UFC lightweight champion will headline UFC Rio against Rafael Fiziev at the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro.
This marks Oliveira’s first fight on Brazilian soil in over five years. The last time “Do Bronx” competed at home was in March 2020, when he submitted Kevin Lee behind closed doors in Brasilia during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the crowd will be behind him, and expectations are high.
“RIO ARE YOU READY?? 🇧🇷 @CharlesDoBronxs will fight in Brazil for the first time in over 5 YEARS in the #UFCRio main event against @RafaelFiziev!”
— UFC posted via X on August 7, 2025
Despite suffering a brutal first-round knockout loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 317 just four months ago, Oliveira isn’t wasting time. He’s eager to bounce back and silence critics who think he’s rushing his return. That loss kept him from reclaiming the vacant lightweight title, and now he’s looking to reestablish himself in a stacked division.
The 35-year-old has alternated wins and losses in his last six outings. With the fight against Fiziev confirmed, Oliveira not only hopes to deliver fireworks for his home crowd but also to protect his standing in the lightweight rankings. A loss here could send him tumbling down the ladder.
“Charles Oliveira won’t be waiting long for his next outing.”
On the other side of the Octagon, Fiziev presents a real threat. Known for his explosive striking and relentless pace, Fiziev enters the fight fresh off a unanimous decision win over Ignacio Bahamondes in June. That victory snapped a three-fight skid, which included a close decision loss to Justin Gaethje and a TKO via knee injury against Mateusz Gamrot.
Before that stretch, Fiziev had racked up a six-fight win streak. But back-to-back wars and a long layoff tested his momentum. With his recent bounce-back win, he’s looking to regain traction, and taking out a veteran like Oliveira would be a major statement.
“Fiziev is a credible threat on the feet, having nabbed a ‘Fight of the Night’ bonus in each of his clashes with Gaethje. While he lost both, his striking prowess is undeniable.”
Interestingly, this matchup has been in the making for years. Back in 2022, rumors swirled that the two lightweights were being lined up for a showdown, but Oliveira dismissed it at the time, choosing to prioritize rest. Fast forward to 2025, and he’s not turning anything down not in Rio.
UFC Rio is already stacking up. Alongside Oliveira vs. Fiziev, the card features the bantamweight debut of 10-time jiu-jitsu world champion and ADCC gold medalist Bia Mesquita against Irina Alekseeva. Heavyweights Vitor Petrino vs. Thomas Petersen and Jhonata Diniz vs. Mario Pinto round out the current lineup.
