As 'brick wall' awaits, Charles Oliveira appreciates UFC's loyalty

Charles Oliveira has never put together the type of winning streak that’s put him in serious title contention, but he appreciates the loyalty that UFC officials have shown him anyway.

During a 10-fight UFC career, the 24-year-old has collected six fight-night bonuses worth a$295,000. Additionally, even after a two-fight skid, he got a main-card slot at the recent UFC Fight Night 36 event, where he submitted Andy Ogle earlier this year.

Now, Oliveira (17-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) heads to New Zealand to meet fellow featherweight Hatsu Hioki (27-7-2 MMA, 3-3 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 43. The bout takes place at Vector Arena in Auckland and streams on UFC Fight Pass.

It’s another main-card slot for Oliveira. UFC President Dana White has often said the fighter’s style is the kind that earns him high-profile opportunities, like when Oliveira fought former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar in 2013.

“This is the first time the UFC goes to New Zealand,” Oliveira told MMAjunkie.com. “I’m excited to be a part of that. To fight in new places, that’s being a part of MMA history.

“And as far as my bonus wins and nice words from the UFC, it shows that people really like to see me fight. I respect my opponents, but regardless of who it is, I’m always moving forward. I always aim to face the best fighters.”

He gets his wish when he faces Hioki. Like Oliveira, the 30-year-old Japanese fighter has struggled with consistency in the UFC. But like Oliveira, he’s always a tough out. In 36 professional fights, Hioki has never been finished, and four of his seven career losses have come via split decision.

“I’m well aware of the brick wall I’ll be facing,” said Oliveira, who held most of his training camp at his Bronx’s Gym in the Brazilian city of Guaruja. “I always ask for the toughest opponents. Hioki is very tough and experienced, but like I said, I always move ahead. I’m working hard to my ground and standup games. I’m not going there to just fight. I’m going there to win.”

Still just 24, Oliveira likely has a long career ahead of him. But he knows he’s needs to prove to the UFC’s executives that he’s a legit contender – not just a .500 fighter who can’t put on fan-friendly fights.

That’s forced him to focus on his game plans in recent bouts.

“Despite losing to Frankie, I always moved ahead, I tried to take him down, I defended takedowns, and I traded on the feet against him,” Oliveira said of the decision loss, which earned “Fight of the Night” honors. “At the end of each round, you could see the damage I inflicted, but unfortunately I lost.

“I came home and learned tenfold from my mistakes. Thankfully, the crowd in Jaragua do Sul helped me a lot against Ogle, and I was victorious. I think the UFC appreciates the fact that I’m putting in good work.”

Now, rather than letting his opponents find openings – like he did in knockout losses to Cub Swanson and Donald Cerrone, or the submission defeat to Jim Miller – he wants to do the exploiting. Hioki struggled against American wrestlers during a three-fight skid in 2013 before rebounding in March with a decision victory Ivan Menjivar.

Although Oliveira may not posses the wrestling skills of Clay Guida or Darren Elkins, Hioki’s previous opponents, he still believes the key to a victory – and his continued ascent up the 145-pound ranks – will come on the mat.

“If I take him down, it’s to use my jiu-jitsu,” Oliveira said. “We’re putting together the best strategy against him. Ultimately it’s going to be a very busy and active fight. Whoever makes a mistake will pay the price. I just hope it it won’t be me. It’s in God’s hands.

” … If Hioki makes an error, I see myself catching him in a submission. But he’s very tough. And what really matters is that I get the win, no matter how.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 43, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.