Charles do Bronx has a simple explanation for his defeat to Ilia Topuria at UFC 317 , held in June 2025. The Brazilian had the chance to regain the lightweight title (up to 70,3 kg), but ended up being knocked out in the first round, all due to a bad decision inside the octagon.
During a seminar at CT Ridenes Lima in Uberlândia, Charles do Bronx acknowledged that he made strategic errors in his fight against Ilia Topuria . He admitted that he lacked intelligence in trying to exchange boxing blows with the Spaniard and took responsibility for the defeat. However, he stated that the setback is part of the game and stressed that the most important thing is to keep a cool head to come back stronger, as he did at UFC Rio.
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“Because I was stupid. The guy was shorter than me and a boxer, what was I supposed to do? (keep) longer, kick, make him come, kill him, make him come and take him down. What I said was: 'I'm going to take him down and land a punch,' but he landed a punch on me first. So I was the stupid one. It happens, it's part of the fight, what are you going to do? It's your mind, come back again. That's what happened, come back stronger and so on,” explained Charles do Bronx , in a video posted by taekwondo black belt Ricardo Lima on Instagram.
Although the loss to Ilia Topuria was traumatic for Charles do Bronx , being the first knockout suffered by the Brazilian, the former champion's comeback was swift. Just over three months after UFC 317 , Charles was the star of UFC Rio against Mateusz Gamrot and, after dominating the Pole in the first round, managed to take his back and win by submission in the second round.
Watch Charles Oliveira's knockout loss at UFC 317 and his victory at UFC Rio:
EL MATADOR IS KING #UFC317 | @TopuriaIlia pic.twitter.com/OW1jQYokzS
— UFC (@ufc) June 29, 2025
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