It’s been a year since Rafaello Oliveira appeared in the UFC. His most recent fight wasn’t a loss, so he wasn’t cut and then asked to return for a fight with Edson Barboza at Saturday’s UFC 162. He is, however, stepping in to replace John Makdessi in a fight most believe he will lose. Oliveira has gotten the axe once before in his time with the UFC, but fought his way back. This time, he aims to pull off a big upset. Unfortunately, the Brazilian’s hands repeatedly have held back his career. The problems started two years ago, when he broke his right hand in a losing effort against Yves Edwards at UFC on Versus 6. He was supposed to fight Reza Madadi next, but re-injured his hand in training. Then he fought Yoislandy Izquierdo despite the same problem. Then he broke his hand two weeks prior to fighting “The Ultimate Fighter 15″ winner Michael Chiesa , and that fight was scratched. An outsider might say Oliveira (15-5 MMA, 2-4 UFC) needs to reconsider his punching technique, get surgery, or take up soccer, but he is proceeding as if the setbacks are temporary distractions from his goal. “I considered surgery, but it wasn’t necessary,” he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “I’m full healed, thankfully
BAD MMA Trending Cloud
UFC • Bellator • Conor Mcgregor • PFL • Jon Jones • Daniel Cormier • Dustin Poirier • Khabib Nurmagomedov • Dana White • Francis Ngannou • Jorge Masvidal • Nate Diaz • Anderson Silva • Max Holloway • WSOF • Michael Chandler • Ronda Rousey • Alex Pereira • Michael Bisping • Amanda Nunes • Alexander Volkanovski • Donald Cerrone • Kamaru Usman • islam makhachev • Tony Ferguson • Henry Cejudo • Jake Paul • Charles Oliveira • Demetrious Johnson • sean o'malley • Jose Aldo • One Championship • Aljamain Sterling • Derrick Lewis • Stipe Miocic • sean strickland • Tyron Woodley • Georges St Pierre • Robert Whittaker • Chael Sonnen
- MMA News (115356)
- Watch Islam Youssef score absurd flying kick knockout at PFL MENA
- Eddie Hearn: Anthony Joshua fight ‘would lead to the end of Jake Paul’
- Gunnar Nelson out of Neil Magny fight at UFC 318
- ‘Count me in’: Conor McGregor, pros react to Donald Trump’s UFC White House announcement
- Ilia Topuria: Islam Makhachev was always the target, but ‘he decided to run away’
- UFC plans October event in Rio de Janeiro
- Fireworks: Who are MMA’s most explosive fighters?
- UFC trivia: Your in-5 daily game, Friday edition
- The White House to host UFC event in 2026
- President Trump reveals plans to hold a UFC event at the White House in 2026