When will Charles Oliveira get a crack at one of 155’s top names?
You’d think by this stage of the game, the UFC would be able to sell [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] in a fight against a top-tier lightweight.
“Do Bronx” has finally embraced competing at 155 pounds after a protracted period in which he pined for a return to featherweight, where he had trouble making the limit. And with his acceptance of his current fate, he’s won five fights in a row, and in the process surpassed Royce Gracie’s hallowed record for most submission victories in UFC history.
Want to sell a fight with Oliveira (27-8 MMA, 15-8 UFC) and a top lightweight name? All you have to do is show the clips demonstrating how slick he is on the ground, and even the casuals will understand.
And yet, he ends up in fights that don’t seem to match his growing stature. Like last time, when he got a Nik Lentz rematch absolutely no one asked for. This time, he fights Jared Gordon (15-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) an all-heart fighter who is exactly the sort of live underdog who could turn this into a sneaky fun fight. But should Oliveira win here, then it is time for his long-overdue step up to the bigger names in the division.
[opinary poll=”whats-your-pick-for-jared-gordon-vs-char” customer=”mmajunkie”]