Charles Oliveira is a massive betting underdog heading into his lightweight title fight with Ilia Topuria this weekend at UFC 317 in Las Vegas, Nevada, but you wouldn’t have known it by the way “do Bronx” is carrying himself throughout fight week.
The former UFC lightweight champion has been oozing confidence. After all, Oliveira has been at the top of the hardest division in UFC for the past five years. He’s the all-time leader in UFC finishes, the people’s champion, and a guy who never backs down. Topuria is the new name to the division looking to prove he belongs.
Despite the odds stacked against him, Oliveira is out to prove he’s still as hungry as the next guy and still capable of hoisting UFC gold.
“I’m a guy that continues to stay thirsty, that is always for the win,” said Oliveira during UFC 317’s media day on Wednesday. “This is for my legacy, for my history. I’m ready for this fight.
“He’s younger, comes in undefeated, but does he want it more than I do? Does he have more hunger, more thirst than I have?”
Oliveira, who is coming off a Fight of the Night win over Michael Chandler his last time out, has already stated that he will walk Topuria down and force the former UFC featherweight to exchange early. “Do Bronx” is confident that he’ll be able to win those moments and sent a clear message to Topuria ahead of Saturday’s massive main event.
“Every fighter has different levels of things, different approaches to things,” he said. “Ilia’s just coming out there very young, very hungry. He’s also undefeated. But there’s a lot to prove still.
“In reality, everyone knows what’s going to happen. He’s another dude that’s talking that’s going to fold in front of me.”