
It’s easy to write off a fighter when they suck. After all, if they suck, then they’ll (hopefully) never challenge for the belt, and their Octagon days are (hopefully) numbered. But what if a fighter has fallen short against the elite members of the division, but absolutely wrecked everyone else? I think we’re getting into that hazy area with Charles Oliveira.
Last night, Oliveira rematched with Nik Lentz. In case you forgot, Oliveira tapped Lentz out in two previous fights, although that first win was overturned because there was an illegal knee in the mix. Anyway, Lentz–a tough veteran–still had nothing for the Brazilian.
Tap or no tap? #UFCRochester pic.twitter.com/DOpmelfQR2
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 19, 2019
But Lentz has been known to give dudes trouble. So what does it mean when Oliveira steamrolls over him like a bagel discarded in the road?
The @CharlesDoBronxs missile finds its target #UFCRochester pic.twitter.com/GOZmAlXkVH
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 19, 2019
I think we’re going to have to ask some hard questions… like, “Man, does Oliveira deserve a title shot?” Because lately, both his submissions and strikes have been on point. At the very least, it’s time for Oliveira to clash with some more of the divisional elite.