​The Essence of Charles Oliveira

By T. Fakhoury

Charles Oliveira, a Brazilian Boy born in 1989 who grew up in the district of Vincente De Carvalho in a a poor Christian family amidst the chaos and dangers of the favelas. Just like any other boy he had the dream to become a football player, sadly this dream was interrupted young as at the age of 7, Charles was fighting for his own life as he was diagnosed with rheumatic fever and heart murmur, a disease that affected his heart valves and sadly this disease would stop him from practicing any sports, Charles was close to once even becoming Paraplegic as his parents didn’t have the money to pay for medical treatment.

Years passed, and the small Charles who already was 12 was healthy, he decided to begin practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, although his parents had a low income, the Jiu-Jitsu Instructor “Roger Coelho” Offered Charles free lessons, Roger was sadly shot in between gunfights of the police and Gang members.
 
Charles continued practicing Jiu-Jitsu the following years and won his first important title in 2003 in the white belt category, then in 2008 Charles started his MMA Career, and on the first round, Charles defeated Jackson ( his opponent) by Submission ( taping out of the fight, when a opponent has a undefeatable move locked on you), and Charles went on to win this tournament and winning the finals.
 
After this tournament, Charles continued to fight in many tournaments and mostly winning them, having an almost perfect career number, this called the attention of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Club) The biggest fighting club/ league in the world where many other famous Brazilians held records like Anderson Silva… And in 2010, he officially joined the UFC and became a partner of the league
 
Charles went on to start his career in the UFC, as a skinny underrated fighter, who could easily beat an opponent in the ground by Submission, many years later in 2017, Charles was regarded as a ferocious ground attacker, with many wins under his name was now the strongest fighter in the Lightweight Bout after Khabib Nurmagdomev Retired, and on the 15 of March 2021 Charles fought against Michael Chandler and after a thought fight Charles found a clean strike, bounced on Michael and Knocked him out, This gave Charles his first UFC Lightweight Champion Belt.
 
Charles in now known as “ O Iluminado” after this amazing life story, Charles is still competing in the UFC, a still very strong opponent and feared by many, But as I wrote this I believe that this represents the essence of Brazil, a Poor person, born in an dangerous place, managed to follow his dreams and become a worldwide known fighter.