UFC Charles Oliveira to Defend Title vs Justin Gaethje

UFC Charles Oliveira to Defend Title vs Justin Gaethje – UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira will look to defend his second title. Namely against Justin Gaethje at UFC 274 on May 7, said UFC president Dana White. The UFC is working on wrapping up its 155-pound title fight soon. The paid show event now includes two title fights. Brazilian light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira will face Jiri Prochazka on the same date. The UFC has yet to announce an official venue. It had considered holding it in Brazil, but the card is now expected to happen in the US.

Oliveira (32-8) is coming off a spectacular year in 2021. The 32-year-old from Brazil won the vacant title by beating Michael Chandler in the second round of an exhilarating title battle in May. And ended the calendar year with a comeback win over Dustin Poirier to defend his first title. Gaethje has been waiting for another gap in UFC gold since former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov retired in October 2020. Gaethje, from Arizona, challenged Nurmagomedov for the title in the final fight of Nurmagomedov’s career.

Defending Champion Charles Oliveira

His record makes him worthy of immediately fighting for the vacant title. But he was forced to grab one more win before getting the chance. That win came against Chandler in November at UFC 268 at Madison Square Garden. Where Gaethje won the fight. Oliveira vs Gaethje is expected to play a separate main match during the light heavyweight title match between division champion Glover Teixeira and challenger Jiri Prochazka.

The title match will mark Oliveira’s second title defense after beating Dustin Poirier in December. Oliveira faced strong opposition in the first half but managed to turn things around and find the end through submission in the third half. The Brazilian UFC champions now have ten straight wins over the likes of Michael Chandler, Tony Ferguson, Kevin Lee and David Teymur.

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