Charles Oliveira

Do Bronx — most submission wins in UFC history and a two-time title contender whose journey from poverty to champion defines the sport.

Charles Oliveira de Jesus was born in Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil in 1989, growing up in extreme poverty — his family lived in a flooded house and he suffered from rheumatic fever as a child that affected his heart. His path from that beginning to UFC champion is Brazilian MMA's most celebrated individual story. He holds the UFC all-time record for submission victories — over 20 — accumulated across a career that began with multiple defeats before developing into one of the elite lightweights on the planet. He won the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship in 2021 by submitting Michael Chandler. He was stripped of the title for missing weight before a defence — a controversial ruling — and lost the title in his next fight to Islam Makhachev. He remains one of the world's elite lightweights. His submission game — he can attack from every position and has finished champions who were considered technically superior — and his emotional post-fight speeches referencing his difficult childhood have made him one of MMA's most beloved figures.

Oliveira is primarily known for his exceptional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills and submission game, holding the UFC record for most submission victories. He possesses dangerous offensive striking with improved boxing and devastating ground-and-pound when he secures top position. His ability to threaten submissions from virtually any position, combined with his relentless pace and cardio, makes him extremely dangerous throughout entire fights.

Oliveira revolutionized the lightweight division with his submission-heavy style in an era increasingly dominated by striking, proving that elite grappling remains highly effective at the highest levels of MMA.

• UFC Lightweight Champion (2021–2022)
• UFC submission record (20+ finishes)
• Performance of Night multiple