BMF champ Charles Oliveira silences UFC retirement rumors, signs whopping eight-fight contract extension

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - OCTOBER 11: Charles Oliveira of Brazil reacts after a victory against Mateusz Gamrot of Poland in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Farmasi Arena on October 11, 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC)

BMF champ Charles Oliveira, in all likelihood, will finish his career in UFC.

The former lightweight titleholder recently signed an eight-fight contract extension with the world’s preeminent MMA promotion, fresh off his dominant performance against longtime rival Max Holloway atop the UFC 326 event last March in Las Vegas.

Oliveira (37-11, 1 NC) holds multiple UFC records including most finishes (21) and total fight night bonuses (21).

“It was a wonderful deal,” head coach Diego Lima told AGFight. “There’s not a single bad thing to say, it was an incredible deal. We’ve got fights lined up until Charles is 40 years old. So for those people who were saying he was going to retire, just wait a bit longer.”

The 36-year-old Oliveira would need to average two fights per year to finish his current contract by age 40.

Prior to avenging his loss to Holloway, the Brazilian submitted Mateusz Gamrot last fall in Brazil and currently sits at . Whether or not Oliveira can work his way into another division title shot may depend on how much longer UFC continues to freeze out Arman Tsarukyan.