“I’m crying because of joy,” Brazilian superstar Charles Oliveira addresses emotional ‘crying moment’ ahead of UFC 289 fight against Beneil Dariush

From the favelas of Brazil to the top of UFC, Charles Oliveira has had an extremely tough journey. Before the fight with Beneil Dariush at UFC 289, Oliveira was caught crying on the camera as he warned up for the fight. Recently, the fighter went viral on the internet about it and addressed what happened.

While responding to the video, Charles Oliveira gave a heartwarming reason for his tears. The fighter mentioned that the tears were joyful as he remembered his struggles before success. A phase that the fighter never intended to forget and always reminded himself to stay motivated ahead of his challenges.

I’m crying because of joy. Everything I experience here is outside of my reality…So you stop here and close your eyes and you remember back there. When it was difficult for me to eat, when I didn’t even have a bicycle to ride… that motivates me.

Charles Oliveira via ESPN MMA

Oliveira’s rise to fame is nothing else but a story of perseverance. The fighter spent his childhood in the Vicente de Carvalho favela. During his childhood days, ‘Do Bronx’ was diagnosed with a heart murmur and rheumatic fever. However, against all odds, the fighter made it through and joined the UFC. 

However, ‘Do Bronx’ initial years in the promotion were not consistent at all. He struggled with weight cuts and lost some fights while winning a few. However, the Brazilian made his comeback and ended up having one of the best stints as an exciting UFC champion ever. He is one of the greatest success stories from Brazil as well as the UFC as a whole.

Charles Oliveira wins over the Vancouver crowd with iconic post-fight speech

Going into UFC 289 against Beneil Dariush, Charles Oliveira was under much pressure. Before that fight, Oliveira had lost his title to Islam Makhachev in a dominating fashion. The fighter had no other option but to defeat Dariush and make a massive impact.

Oliveira had to make a statement, and that’s exactly what he did. In the last minute of the very first round, the Brazilian dropped Dariush and won the fight via TKO. The Vancouver crowd erupted with loud cheers for the former champion.

I’m sorry, my English is little, Thanks so much. I’ve been supported. I don’t need to send a message. Last time, you saw ten percent of me. Now, you saw 120% of me. The champion has a name, and it’s Charles Oliveira. I’m only worried about what I’m gonna do, and that’s what I’m gonna keep doing.

Charles Oliveira via UFC 289 octagon interview

The entire crowd in Vancouver erupted with cheers. No Brazilian fighter had ever received such an ovation. In fact, in the history of UFC events in Canada, only Georges St-Pierre ever received such an ovation. As such, it was a sight to behold and indicated the love fans had for ‘Do Bronx.’

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