UFC 162's Charles Oliveira: Due to judges, 'it's necessary to go for broke'

UFC 162 co-headliner Charles Oliveira: Due to judges, ‘it’s necessary to go for broke’ In 20 professional fights, UFC 162 co-headliner Charles Oliveira has been to a decision just once. The reason, he said, is simple: He doesn’t trust judges, so that forces him to take gambles where other won’t.

“I do think it’s necessary to take chances when attempting to win,” he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “Look at my fights. I may win or lose, but I almost never go to decision. I only have one decision on my record, an old bout in Brazil. If one doesn’t take risks, the decision is left to the judges, and that’s why it’s necessary to go for broke.”

However, this isn’t a new sentiment, despite MMA judging’s recent woes. Oliveira said it’s something he learned early in his career, when he was still cutting his teeth on the regional circuit in his native Brazil.

Now, though, he’s fighting for the world’s largest MMA promotion and co-headlining Saturday’s UFC 162 pay-per-view event at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. Oliveira (16-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) meets ex-champ and fellow featherweight Frankie Edgar (15-4-1 MMA, 9-4-1 UFC), who returns to three-round fights for the first time in eight bouts.

Oliveira considers Edgar the second-best 145-pounder in the division, behind only champion Jose Aldo. So, despite owning 15 stoppages in 16 career wins, Oliveira knows Edgar is going to be a tough out.

“He is very durable, and he comes back even after being rocked,” he said. “I think if you knock him down, trying to finish him by strikes may not be the best approach. He is very good indeed.”

Oliveira, just 23, had posted back-to-back submission wins over Eric Wisely and Jonathan Brookins before a knockout loss to Cub Swanson at UFC 152 back in September. It remains his most recent bout. However, a victory over Edgar could get him right back in the title picture. And though the well-conditioned and technical fighter dropped down from lightweight, Edgar is likely to still see a height and reach disadvantage on Saturday.

“I am taller than the average fighter in my weight class, so it can be difficult to overcome the length difference, but he’s an ex-champion and I’m sure he’s devising a strategy,” Oliveira said. “I expect this to be a very difficult fight.”

For this bout, which is undoubtedly the highest-profile one of his career, and thanks to a 10-month break from competition, Oliveira has spent an extended camp at Bronx’s Gold Gym in Guaruja and Diego Lima’s Chute Boxe academy in Sao Paulo. Preparing for a versatile opponent like Edgar, he said he’s needed to focus on everything – muay Thai, boxing, jiu-jitsu and wrestling.

Ultimately, he said, his goal is to do what no one else ever has: earn a stoppage win over the former titleholder. Not even B.J. Penn, Benson Henderson, Gray Maynard, Jim Miller or Sean Sherk could do that.

“He’s never been knocked out or submitted,” Oliveira said. “He is very tough. But there’s a first time for everything in life.

“This is the most important fight of my career.”

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