Charles Oliveira vs. Rafael Fiziev Headlines UFC Rio: Muay Thai Collision Course Breakdown originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The UFC’s October 11 return to Rio de Janeiro just got a main event, a pivotal lightweight showdown between two of the most technically refined Muay Thai stylists in the division, if not the entire UFC.
Charles Oliveira vs. Rafael Fiziev was announced today, and it will be a headliner worthy of Rio De Janeiro’s combat sports legacy.
Oliveira, the former champion with a lethal clinch game, and Fiziev, a former kickboxing sniper with devastating power, promise a striking chess match that will be sure to satisfy enthusiasts of the art of eight limbs.
Though Oliveira is best known for his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, his Muay Thai skills are the silent engine of his standup success. He trains out of Chute Boxe Diego Lima, a camp with deep ties to Thai boxing. His knee strikes and slicing elbows from close quarters have whittled away at elite opponents like Dustin Poirier.
Despite his devastating knockout loss to Ilia Topuria for the vacant UFC lightweight belt, the former champion is as tough as they come. He also has a knack for comeback wins after devastating losses, evidenced by his brutal KO finish of Beneil Dariush, which came after his submission loss to Islam Makhachev.
Fiziev, on the other hand, is a product of Tiger Muay Thai, bringing a kickboxer’s precision to the Octagon. His kicks, from pinpoint left switch-kicks to spinning heel kicks to piston-like teeps, are the main weapons of his Nak Muay arsenal.
Watch this breakdown of Fiziev’s techniques and tactics by Nathan Epps, a former pro kickboxer and current striking coach at the UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai:
He recently snapped a three-fight losing skid with a dominant win over Ignacio Bahamondes at UFC Baku, and is hungry to reclaim his place among the lightweight elite.
This fight hinges on whose Muay Thai adaptations translate better under MMA rules. In their overall career, Fiziev’s 4.77 significant strikes landed per minute (SLpM) outpaces Oliveira’s 3.41. Also, Fiziev’s significant strike defense at 50% edges out Oliveira’s 48%, suggesting a slightly more disciplined guard.
However, the numbers don’t tell the entire story.
The clinch battle will be pivotal. Fiziev has had troubles in close quarters, as he lost to Justin Gaethje in their second fight, partially due to Gaethje’s use of a one-handed collar tie combined with tight uppercuts. Video evidence here:
If he can stymie the clinch and keep his distance, however, Fiziev could batter Oliveira. The former champ has some trouble when he is at kicking range:
From Anderson Silva to José Aldo, Muay Thai adapted for MMA is some of the most visually pleasing fighting to watch for casuals and hardcores alike. The clash between Oliveira and Fiziev will represent its modern evolution, though a win for either man will likely not grant them an immediate title shot, given their respective struggles as of late. Regardless, the main event for UFC Rio in Oct. 11 will be a fun one to watch.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
