Vinicius Oliveira
Lok Dog
Brazil
Racks up fourth straight win
Oliveira defeated Kyler Phillips via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC 318 on Saturday in New Orleans.
ANALYSIS
Oliveira earned his UFC opportunity with a first-round knockout win on Dana White's Contender Series back in September 2023. He officially joined the company in March 2024 and has been on a roll since, winning four in a row -- the most recent of the bunch being this one against Phillips. Oliveira was blitzed by his opponent out of the gate, but his constant pressure, combined with elite hand speed, allowed him to work his way back into the fight. It's difficult to think of another UFC fighter that employs a similar style. Oliveira refuses to take a step backwards and fights with his hands down. At all times. The only time he raises them is when he's punching his opponent. It remains to be seen if this is going to work against elite-level competition, but it hasn't been an issue yet, so there's no reason for the Brazilian to change anything up at the moment.
Oliveira earned his UFC opportunity with a first-round knockout win on Dana White's Contender Series back in September 2023. He officially joined the company in March 2024 and has been on a roll since, winning four in a row -- the most recent of the bunch being this one against Phillips. Oliveira was blitzed by his opponent out of the gate, but his constant pressure, combined with elite hand speed, allowed him to work his way back into the fight. It's difficult to think of another UFC fighter that employs a similar style. Oliveira refuses to take a step backwards and fights with his hands down. At all times. The only time he raises them is when he's punching his opponent. It remains to be seen if this is going to work against elite-level competition, but it hasn't been an issue yet, so there's no reason for the Brazilian to change anything up at the moment.
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Looks to stay perfect
Oliveira will take on Kyler Phillips in a Bantamweight bout at UFC 318 on July 19, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Oliveira is a perfect 3-0 in the UFC with multiple upset victories under his belt. He'll face a formidable foe in Phillips, who boasts a 6-2 record in the promotion but is coming off a huge upset loss. Oliveira, meanwhile, most recently disposed of Said Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision on Feb. 1.
Oliveira is a perfect 3-0 in the UFC with multiple upset victories under his belt. He'll face a formidable foe in Phillips, who boasts a 6-2 record in the promotion but is coming off a huge upset loss. Oliveira, meanwhile, most recently disposed of Said Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision on Feb. 1.
Scores another upset victory
Oliveira defeated Said Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
ANALYSIS
This was a strange fight. When the two men were in peak condition, which wasn't very long, Nurmagomedov got the better of the action. Yet, Oliveira, as is always the case, remained aggressive and was able to take advantage of his tiring opponent over the course of the final two rounds. Of course, the Brazilian displayed a below-average gas tank in his own right, but Nurmagomedov was so exhausted in the closing minutes that Oliveira was able to win Round 3 without doing a heck of a lot. When it was all said and done, the back-and-forth affair earned both men a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus. Oliveira spent his post-fight interview calling out Umar Nurmagomedov. That almost certainly won't be happening, but with wins over Said, Ricky Simon and Bernardo Sopaj to begin his time with the company, Oliveira's UFC run is off to a fantastic start.
This was a strange fight. When the two men were in peak condition, which wasn't very long, Nurmagomedov got the better of the action. Yet, Oliveira, as is always the case, remained aggressive and was able to take advantage of his tiring opponent over the course of the final two rounds. Of course, the Brazilian displayed a below-average gas tank in his own right, but Nurmagomedov was so exhausted in the closing minutes that Oliveira was able to win Round 3 without doing a heck of a lot. When it was all said and done, the back-and-forth affair earned both men a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus. Oliveira spent his post-fight interview calling out Umar Nurmagomedov. That almost certainly won't be happening, but with wins over Said, Ricky Simon and Bernardo Sopaj to begin his time with the company, Oliveira's UFC run is off to a fantastic start.
Next fight scheduled
Oliveira is scheduled to compete against Said Nurmagomedov in a bantamweight fight at UFC Saudi Arabia on Feb. 1, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Oliveira will look to begin his 2025 like he performed in 2024. He was scheduled to compete in Saudi Arabia on March 2 before the date's UFC event was replaced with a Vegas card. However, Oliveira made its night with a highlight reel knockout and pulled off a June upset over Ricky Simon months later.
Oliveira will look to begin his 2025 like he performed in 2024. He was scheduled to compete in Saudi Arabia on March 2 before the date's UFC event was replaced with a Vegas card. However, Oliveira made its night with a highlight reel knockout and pulled off a June upset over Ricky Simon months later.
Pulls upset in UFC 303 opener
Oliveira defeated Ricky Simon via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) at UFC 303 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Too easy. On the heels of a highlight reel knockout win over Bernardo Sopaj in March, Oliveira dominated a division mainstay in Simon from bell-to-bell. The Brazilian simply kept his hands low and easily picked Simon apart on the feet. In the two instances in which Oliveira gave up a takedown, he got right back to his feet. Vinicius displayed a ton of creativity in the striking game. Simon looked awful, but Oliveira deserves full marks for his performance. The 28-year-old is a fighter to keep an eye on at 135 pounds moving forward.
Too easy. On the heels of a highlight reel knockout win over Bernardo Sopaj in March, Oliveira dominated a division mainstay in Simon from bell-to-bell. The Brazilian simply kept his hands low and easily picked Simon apart on the feet. In the two instances in which Oliveira gave up a takedown, he got right back to his feet. Vinicius displayed a ton of creativity in the striking game. Simon looked awful, but Oliveira deserves full marks for his performance. The 28-year-old is a fighter to keep an eye on at 135 pounds moving forward.
Facing Simon in June
Oliveira will face Ricky Simon in a three-round bantamweight contest at UFC 303 on June 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, per MMAJunkie.USAToday.com.
ANALYSIS
Oliveira will take on Simon following a spectacular knockout victory over Bernardo Sopaj in March."Lok Dog" will look to use his strong stopping power over the smaller American as Oliveira hopes to remain unbeaten in his UFC tenure. Simon, despite coming off back-to-back losses, owns an 8-4 record in the UFC and will be no easy task for the five-foot-nine Brazilian.
Oliveira will take on Simon following a spectacular knockout victory over Bernardo Sopaj in March."Lok Dog" will look to use his strong stopping power over the smaller American as Oliveira hopes to remain unbeaten in his UFC tenure. Simon, despite coming off back-to-back losses, owns an 8-4 record in the UFC and will be no easy task for the five-foot-nine Brazilian.