Charles Oliveira has returned to the gym and wants one more fight before the end of the year. The BMF champion took an extended break from training following the sudden death of his close friend Allan Nascimento in early August.
The tragedy forced Oliveira to withdraw from a highly anticipated rematch against Arman Tsarukyan. Now back on the mats, the veteran wants to keep his momentum going after beating Max Holloway back in March.
However, the UFC has not yet offered him a new opponent, a date, or a clear plan, leaving him off the schedule for the rest of 2026.
Charles Oliveira Waits for UFC to Offer Next Fight
Oliveira last stepped into the cage at UFC 326, where he took the BMF title from Holloway with a five-round, 50-45 unanimous decision victory. He used an extensive wrestling style and logged over 20 minutes of ground control to secure the win.
That grappling-heavy style did not sit well with the crowd. After the fight, stars like Nate Diaz, Conor McGregor and Khamzat Chimaev complained that just holding someone down goes against everything the BMF belt stands for.
Oliveira took a break after that win, and his absence from the Octagon was extended following Nascimento’s tragic passing. Since then, Tsarukyan has claimed that it was just an excuse for Oliveira to back out of their quick rematch. Whatever the reason, the former champion is back training and looking for one more crack before 2026 closes out.
But in an interview with Olhar da Luta, he said, “I don’t have any fight booked. No opponent has been offered to me. People keep throwing names out there but I don’t have anything. The reality is that I want to fight again before the end of the year. I want to have one more fight.”
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Oliveira (37-11) was originally scheduled to face Arman Tsarukyan in the co-main event of UFC 331 in Los Angeles on Sept. 19, a highly anticipated rematch of their split-decision fight at UFC 300.
However, the UFC booked Mauricio Ruffy to face Tsarukyan in that co-main event slot after Oliveira withdrew. Now, the 36-year-old is waiting to get an official return date from the promotion.
Charles Oliveira’s Potential Opponents for a Late 2026 Return
Oliveira’s delayed return creates a jam at the top of the 155-pound division. The former lightweight champion holds the No. 3 spot in the rankings and has a professional record of 37-11. Matchmakers cannot easily book other high-profile fights without knowing his availability.
Meanwhile, No. 2-ranked Tsarukyan is set to face unranked Ruffy, who holds a 14-2 record. A victory for Tsarukyan keeps him next in line for a title shot. This leaves a narrow window for Oliveira to find a partner before the year ends, with options opening up depending on autumn results.
No. 12-ranked Dan Hooker (24-14) is currently scheduled to headline UFC Paris against Salahdine Parnasse on September 5. If Hooker wins his main event cleanly, his intense bad blood with Oliveira makes him a premier candidate for a winter BMF title defense.
Meanwhile, lightweight champion Justin Gaethje (28-5) offers a big fight, but his management team continues to push for fresh challengers following his victory over Ilia Topuria. Furthermore, Gaethje stated after his title win that he is unlikely to fight again for the remainder of the year, meaning any potential clash must wait until early 2027.
It remains to be seen whether the promotion will finally assign someone as his opponent. However, one thing is certain: no official name or clear hint will emerge until at least the end of September.
