While the constant desire to focus on things in the future and not what is already behind him can sound like typical fighter-speak, Oliveira comes by it naturally. “I do not focus on things that I do not have control over what is in the past is done,” he said when asked about the lingering disappointment of being stripped of the title, maintaining the same steely, forward-focused outlook that has been ever-present as he’s risen to the top of the division over the last three years. “Now, I only focus on Islam Makhachev.” Instead, those celebrations were somewhat muted because Oliveira wasn’t presented with the belt, and now heads into his highly anticipated battle with Makhachev on Saturday fighting for a vacant title, rather than seeking to defend his belt for a third time.įREE FIGHTS: Oliveira vs Gaethje | Makhachev vs Hooker | Dillashaw vs Sandhagen | O'Malley vs Almeida | Yan vs Faber | Sterling vs Yan 2 It was the kind of performance that should have been a capstone on what has been an incredible run for the veteran, who turned 33 on Monday. He still marched out into the Octagon the following evening and stormed through Gaethje, submitting the Arizona-born contender in the first round to earn his 11th consecutive victory and third straight championship fight finish. The miss only cost Dumont a fine, but for Oliveira, it cost him his title, as well. Some fighters complained about discrepancies between the official weigh-in scale and the one used in the back to check their weights, with both Oliveira and Norma Dumont missing their contracted weights by half-a-pound.
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