Charles Oliveira making transition to UFC's featherweight division

Brazilian youngster Charles Oliveira (14-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) is dropping to 145 pounds.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today learned from Oliveira's manager, Wade Hampel, that Oliveira has informed UFC brass he would like for his next fight to take place in the company's featherweight division.

"Charles hopes to return to action before the end of the year, if possible," Hampel said. "We're extremely excited to see what he can achieve at 145 pounds."

Hampel said Oliveira, who was 5-foot-10 when he made his octagon debut back in August 2010, has since grown to 6-foot-2. Nevertheless, at just 22 years old, Oliveira is still lean enough to make the drop, according to his camp.

Hampel said Oliveira recently went through a test cut and had no problem hitting 145 pounds. Hampel said his client also recovered well from the test run and felt strong quickly after rehydrating.

Hampel, who stands 6-foot-6, said Oliveira's shoulders and wingspan are similar to his own and believes "Do Bronx" could someday compete as high as 185 pounds. But in the meantime, Oliveira looks to take advantage of his current build.

Oliveira burst onto the UFC scene with back-to-back submission wins over Efrain Escudero and Darren Elkins. However, he's since sandwiched losses to Donald Cerrone and Jim Miller around an unfortunate no-contest result with Nik Lentz.


Love watching Oliveira,always makes a fun fight,he made a nick lentz fight fun and I don't think there are many fighters out there that can do that.
I actually said when the UFC said they were adding the new weight classes that Do bronx could make a good FW,but that's when he was no bigger than Kenny Florian,but 6'2 and fighting at 145lb sounds crazy to me,he'll be 6-8 inches taller than 90% of the division.

6'2,145lbs doesn't sound like the description of a athelete,it sounds more like someone on their death bed.

I'll be very interested to see how he does,I mean there are some great exciting fighters at FW and oliviera fits perfectly into that catergory.
It could be a good move for him,if his skills and energy aren't effected to much from the cut,thinking about it Roop and Garza are both 6 ft + and they both seem to do OK at this weight.

I was shocked that Cerrone stopped him in a round, he looked kinds smaller than Cerrone I thought and at 22 Im sure the weight cut wont hurt him. My wee Brother is much broader and heavier around the shoulders than Oliveira and at 6" fought at 140lbs (Boxing Lww, though he made the cut for to Lw 135 once before when he was around 19). I think weight cutting is much easier for a fighter his age and its a great Idea.

I wonder if he has really grown to 6"2 in a year though... Well have to see when they announce him.

I reckon he will make a contender at this weight for sure, I cant think of maby Fw's 6" or over, Size will be a massive advantange for him allright, 2 sub of the nights, I think some short wrestlers could be in for a wakeup call from a BJJ/Muay Thai fighter with that length.

Ideas of 1st opponent? Id love to see Manny Gamburian fight him.

Ross Pearson is moving to featherweight too.

Maximo Blanco's next fight is supposed to be in the UFC at FW,that'd be good.

Hominick would be a good fight,but he's fighting the Zombie in Dec.
Swanson would also be good but he's fighting Lamas on the fox card.
Phan's an option,but I think Oliviera would easily take him apart personally so I'd probably say Koch would be a good first opponent and a great fight.

I just don't want to see him thrown straight in with any of the wrestlers yet,I mean he can't avoid them,if he wants to do anything in the UFC,but I'd just prefer his first FW fight to be against someone that's going to trade with him.

Sheldan wrote:Ross Pearson is moving to featherweight too.

Reports they are matched up with each other at Fw.