Outside Source
Weighing in on Oliveira’s recent record, Pantoja said that the former lightweight champ should consider moving up to welterweight. Oliviera thinks cutting too much weight could be draining Oliveira. “The Cannibal” further noted that Oliveira’s weight cuts look taxing, as he is always surrounded by a large number of people. In contrast, Pantoja only has his coach and his children around while cutting weight.
Pantoja: Lots of Tension with Oliveira’s Weight Cuts
“The weight cut is maybe too much,” Pantoja said on the Overdogs Podcast. “When you cut too much weight, you need to understand, all your water goes out. If you dry yourself out too much, you make yourself vulnerable… Maybe Charles is too heavy for that division. [170 pounds] would make it easier for him. I like Charles. I meet him a lot of times, but I’m not too close to see how much weight he have right now. But all the time people spray across to him. When I cut weight, it’s me, my coach and my two kids, that’s it. It’s a lot of tension, lot of pressure [with Oliveira]. I don’t like that, man.”
Alexandre Pantoja believes Charles Oliveira should make the move up to welterweight. 👀🥊
“The weight cut is too much. When you cut too much weight, if you dry yourself out too much, you make yourself vulnerable. Maybe Charles is too heavy for that [lightweight] division. [170… pic.twitter.com/d540IgEIPB
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) September 20, 2025
Oliveira defended his lightweight title twice before being dethroned by Islam Makhachev in 2022. “Do Bronx” has since gone 2-2 and is fresh off a knockout loss in a clash for the vacant lightweight title against former featherweight champ Ilia Topuria. The Brazilian was scheduled to headline UFC Rio against Rafael Fiziev on Oct. 11, but the latter was forced out with an injury. Meanwhile, Pantoja is on an eight-fight winning streak, which includes four flyweight title defenses.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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