Charles Oliveira, the former lightweight champion, is set to face a tough test when he returns to his home country of Brazil for the first time since March 2020. He will take on Rafael Fiziev in the main event of UFC Rio, which takes place at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro on October 11.
Oliveira, 35, has struggled in his recent fights, alternating between wins and losses over the past six bouts. His last attempt to regain the lightweight title was cut short when he was knocked out by Ilia Topuria in June at UFC 317.
Fiziev, meanwhile, is looking to bounce back from a string of defeats that saw him lose six consecutive fights before snapping a three-fight losing streak with a unanimous decision win over Ignacio Bahamondes. He suffered a costly knee injury in his next fight against Justin Gaethje but has since returned and will be looking to continue his resurgence.
The UFC Rio event also features other notable bouts, including a bantamweight debut from 10-time jiu-jitsu world champion Bia Mesquita, who faces Irina Alekseeva. Additionally, two heavyweight matchups are set for the card, pitting Vitor Petrino against Thomas Petersen and Jhonata Diniz against Mario Pinto.
Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc-news/308078/charles-oliveira-vs-rafael-fiziev-announced-for-ufc-rio-main-event