What really forced Charles Oliveira out of UFC 331? Daniel Cormier has the answer
One of UFC 331's biggest fights disappeared before the cage door closed. Charles Oliveira was set to renew his rivalry with Arman Tsarukyan nearly two years after their first encounter, but 'Do Bronx' pulled out, leaving Mauricio Ruffy to answer the call on Thursday.
The reason for the withdrawal? Daniel Cormier has revealed what really irked the BMF champion, forcing him to pull out of the fight.
Daniel Cormier Reveals Why Charles Oliveira Withdrew
While speaking to his audience on YouTube, the former two-division champion revealed that Charles Oliveira was ready for his rematch against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311. However, the sudden passing of his Chute Boxe teammate and 'brother,' Allan Nascimento, on Monday left him too heartbroken to go through with the fight.
“It’s unfortunate because we would have loved to see and Oliveira have a rematch,” Cormier said in a new YouTube video. “The first fight was tremendous. Arman actually hit a fan on the way to the octagon! But unfortunately, Charles’ teammate passed away, and that’s why I believe we’re not getting that fight.”
For Oliveira, Allan Nascimento was not just another teammate but someone who was as close as family. The pair trained together at Diego Lima's Chute Boxe Academy, and Oliveira even cornered several of Nascimento's UFC fights.
They stood in each other's corners through every crucial battle and embraced each other as brothers. As Daniel Cormier said, Team Oliveira has always been a family, making the loss even more heartbreaking.
“Obviously, those guys down there, Oliveira and their team, they’re all so close. So I think that’s why we’re not getting the Charles fight,” said Cormier.
The bout represented Oliveira's road back to title contention. After being knocked out by Ilia Topuria last year, he rebuilt his momentum by defeating Mauricio Ruffy and then dethroning Max Holloway to claim the BMF belt.
However, despite that, Oliveira chose to walk away out of sheer respect for his friend, and now, he has vowed to carry his friend's legacy throughout his life.
Oliveira Promises Nascimento Will Never Be Forgotten
On Wednesday, during Nascimento's funeral, the members of Diego Lima's Chute Boxe Academy gave their friend a fitting farewell by forming a guard of honour and applauding as his casket was carried out of the academy.
The UFC flyweight was found unresponsive in his sleep, and despite repeated attempts by the medical team to resuscitate him, he could not be saved. The guard of honour served as a final tribute to the fallen warrior.
Following that emotional farewell to his longtime friend, Charles Oliveira vowed that Nascimento's legacy would live on at the Chute Boxe Academy.
"Allanzito, you were always an example of commitment, discipline, and character to our team," Oliveira said, per Sherdog. "Be sure your legacy will never be forgotten. Now we have something even greater to fight for. Every time we step into the cage, you will be there with us, yelling 'Heeyyy.' The spirit of Chute Boxe has only grown stronger."
Nascimento's UFC journey began in 2021 with a split-decision loss to Tagir Ulanbekov at UFC 267: Błachowicz vs. Teixeira. Yet he refused to let that setback define him, responding with an impressive four-fight winning streak. He leaves behind a 4-2 UFC record and a professional résumé of 22-7.
Losing a friend as close as Nascimento would take some time; however, Charles Oliveira will be back with a bang.
