On this day in 2015, Charles Oliveira finally got the better of an opponent that he first met several years before.
‘Do Bronx’ has had a remarkable UFC career having debuted in the promotion all the way back in 2010.
The elite finisher is no stranger to big fights, with Oliveira set to face Ilia Topuria for the vacant lightweight title in the main event of UFC 317.
Before the Brazilian established himself as one of the best in the world at 155 pounds, he went through several career setbacks which led to fans questioning whether he would ever reach the top of the sport.
Though his best days were still in the distance, Oliveira was able to turn a corner on May 30 when he got his opportunity to settle some unfinished business.
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Charles Oliveira submitted Nik Lentz in 2015 to correct the mistakes from their first fight
At UFC Fight Night 67 in Goiânia, Brazil, the co-main event featured a featherweight rematch between Charles Oliveira and Nik Lentz.
The pair first met four years prior where the initial result saw ‘Do Bronx’ secure another submission win to bounce back from his first defeat inside the Octagon.
Unfortunately for the Brazilian, the outcome was changed to a no contest due to an illegal knee that came before the submission, leaving Oliveira and Lentz with a score to settle.
They met again in 2015 where Oliveira was riding a three-fight win streak into May 30.
The first two rounds produced a back-and-forth affair with both men having success in the striking ranges and on the ground.
At the start of the third, Lentz tried to continue putting a pace on Oliveira but his opponent had an answer for him after he threatened with a guillotine choke in the clinch.
‘Do Bronx’ jumped for the submission and got it, earning himself an additional $100,000 after being awarded a fight and performance of the night bonus.
Oliveira’s featherweight win streak would come to an end in his next fight after he suffered an injury in the first round of his clash with Max Holloway.
Charles Oliveira and Nik Lentz met again in one of the UFC’s most forgotten trilogies
The history between Charles Oliveira and Nik Lentz didn’t end in 2015 after the Brazilian got his hand raised without any controversy.
They met again four years later where this time around, ‘Do Bronx’ was building an impressive winning streak in the lightweight division.
Even Lentz had admitted in an interview with MMA Fighting that he believed their rematch would be the last time that they would cross paths inside the Octagon.
“A lot of people don’t understand the fight, and I don’t actually understand the matchmaking all that well myself but after the fight happens a lot of people will understand it was a great fight to make. I’m going to get him.”
Oliveira stopped Lentz in the second round after dropping him with a sharp right hand, continuing his streak that would eventually see him become the UFC lightweight champion.