Charles Oliveira’s Brutal Early Weight Cutting Worries Alexander Volkanovski

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski raises concerns about Charles Oliveira's weight cut ahead of UFC 317.

Charles Oliveira’s Brutal Early Weight Cutting Worries Alexander Volkanovski

Alexander Volkanovski first thought Charles Oliveira's weight cutting was efficient (via X/Imago)

Charles Oliveira is aiming to make history as the first fighter to win the UFC lightweight championship title twice in history. The veteran will face Ilia Topuria this Saturday in the UFC 317 main event inside the famous T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. As fight night approaches, Oliveira’s current weight-cut process has raised concerns from two-time featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.

Weight cutting is often considered the toughest and most critical phase of a UFC fighter’s preparation leading into a major fight event. Recently, Oliveira shared a photo with his entire team supporting him while he worked hard to make the 155lbs limit. In an interview with Ariel Helwani, Volkanovski discussed weight cutting in detail, highlighting what’s wrong with Oliveira’s process.

You shouldn’t be doing that yet… If he’s cutting the weight now and then he has to do a press conference later this afternoon… I mean, that’s a long time to be sort of dehydrated. Maybe it’s an old one and they’re just like getting ready for the weight cut and then that’s why they posted it, I don’t know.

Oliveira is known for his extreme weight cuts and often shares photos and videos of the intense process on social media. His close friends and teammates are always seen by his side, helping him endure the difficult moments and staying fully involved.

Apart from fighting, Oliveira is a proud family man who often shares that he competes to provide a better life for them. Ahead of UFC 317, Oliveira promised his seven-month-old son he would reclaim the UFC lightweight title by defeating Ilia Topuria. However, Topuria believes Oliveira should have kept his family out, warning he will lose and face heartbreak inside the Octagon soon.

Alexander Volkanovski predicts Charles Oliveira vs. Ilia Topuria

Ilia Topuria has quickly established himself as a dominant force in the UFC with his explosive knockout power and versatile skills. His ability to seamlessly blend striking and grappling has made him a nightmare for opponents throughout his impressive UFC run. Topuria’s biggest breakthrough came when he knocked out Alexander Volkanovski, ending the champion’s reign and shocking the MMA world.

Alexander Volkanovski predicts Ilia Topuria to beat Charles Oliveira
Alexander Volkanovski predicts Ilia Topuria to beat Charles Oliveira (via X)

That victory not only earned him the featherweight title but also proved that he’s one of the most dangerous fighters today. Despite the rivalry, both Topuria and Volkanovski still share a great relationship with each other. In a recent interview, the ‘Great’ talked about Topuria having a better chance of beating Charles Oliveira.

He’s just so aggressive. He’s going to take a lot of risks, he’s in your face, he comes forward. It’s like, yeah, you can hit him, but something’s going to be coming at you as well — and they’re always dangerous guys. He’s dangerous everywhere. So you’ve got to go in there and respect that. I’m going to Ilia. I think he’s going to get the win. I think Ilia can catch him. I reckon early knockout. Early knockout for Ilia Topuria.

This will be Topuria’s second fight in the lightweight division, where he claims to feel stronger and possess greater stamina now. He has already warned that he plans to knock out Oliveira early, aiming to continue his impressive knockout streak. It remains to be seen whether the Brazilian can defy the odds and deliver an upset by reclaiming the UFC lightweight championship title.