Charles Oliveira had emerged as a rising sensation in the UFC and was scheduled to defend his title against Justin Gaethje. However, the event was overshadowed by controversy when Oliveira weighed in at 155.5 pounds — just half a pound over the lightweight title limit. As a result, the UFC stripped “Do Bronx” of his championship. Years later, the Brazilian fighter publicly accused the UFC of favoring Gaethje and his team during the ordeal.
After Oliveira was stripped of his title, only Justin Gaethje remained eligible to win the belt. However, “The Highlight” failed to capitalize, as the Brazilian submitted him with a rear-naked choke. Despite the victory, the former lightweight champion still believes his title was unjustly taken from him. In a recent interview with RealMMAToday, Oliveira said:
“Everyone knows they stole my belt. It was never about 200 grams. His corner, his coach, was always around me, all over the place like he was from the commission. This stuff doesn’t happen anywhere else.”
Charles Oliveira calls Justin Gaethje the hardest fight of his life: "Everyone knows they stole my belt." 😳🥇
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) May 28, 2025
"Everyone knows they stole my belt. It was never about 200 grams. His corner, his coach, was always around me, all over the place like he was from the commission. This… pic.twitter.com/VmQxJlVEyD
Oliveira believes the UFC was trying to give Gaethje the title by creating mental pressure during fight week. Since they couldn’t do it directly, he feels they used tactics to throw him off, and in the end, he says they “robbed” him of his belt.
Ilia Topuria Apologizes To Charles Oliveira Ahead Of Their Appearance At UFC 317
Ilia Topuria will take on Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317, set during the UFC’s International Fight Week on June 28. Confident in his quest for double-champ status, Topuria has already issued an early apology to Oliveira, showing both respect and belief in his victory. On X, the Spanish fighter wrote:
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral MMA stories via Google! Follow Us
“On June 28, another dream will come true. I’ll be the champion of the lightweight division. Charles, my apologies in advance… I’m just fighting for my dreams. It’s unfortunate that Makhachev ran away. 17-0.”
With the fight just weeks away, excitement among fans is building fast. All eyes are now on UFC 317, where the world will find out who claims the vacant lightweight title.
Also Read: UFC Legend Believes No One Will Strip Islam Makhachev’s Title Thanks To Khabib Nurmagomedov
