The UFC lit up Rio de Janeiro last night with an electric card at the Farmasi Arena. It was the promotion’s first return to the Brazilian city since UFC 301 in May 2024, where Alexandre Pantoja defended his flyweight crown against Steve Erceg. This was also the first Fight Night card in Rio since 2015, when Demian Maia defeated Ryan LaFlare in the main event.
The night’s headline bout featured former lightweight king Charles Oliveira facing Poland’s Mateusz Gamrot. Oliveira, alternating between wins and losses since losing his belt three years ago, stepped into the cage for the first time since Ilia Topuria knocked him out at UFC 317 in June. Gamrot, who had taken the fight on short notice after Rafael Fiziev’s injury, entered the octagon having won four of his last five, including a decision victory over Ľudovit Klein in May.
The co-main event brought back another Brazilian star. Former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo clashed with Montel Jackson after suffering two straight defeats. Jackson came in on a six-fight winning streak, having recently outpointed Daniel Marcos.
Who shined under Rio’s bright lights? And who left the fans disappointed? Here are the hits and misses from UFC Rio.
Miss: An Unforgivable Weight Miss
Luan Lacerda showed courage stepping into the octagon despite his opponent’s huge weight miss. Saimon Oliveira came in eight pounds over the bantamweight limit, risking the fight until the last moment. His weight was closer to featherweight, making the situation unacceptable. Some commissions might have canceled the bout immediately.
Lacerda still chose to fight, but this incident underlined a persistent problem. Extreme weight cutting remains dangerous and needs better regulation. The sport’s pay structure also plays a role, yet this level of irresponsibility deserves harsher penalties. Both athletic commissions and promotions should rethink how to handle such situations to ensure fairness and fighter safety.
Hit: Bia Mesquita Dominates On Her UFC Debut
Brazilian jiu-jitsu icon Bia Mesquita made a stunning transition to MMA with a dominant win over Irina Alekseeva. Mesquita took her opponent down early and imposed complete control from full mount with relentless ground-and-pound.
In the second round, she sealed the deal with a flawless rear-naked choke. Mesquita might be new to MMA, but her technical precision and composure showed veteran-level skill. The women’s bantamweight division now has a fresh and exciting contender. Fans are already dreaming of a potential showdown between Mesquita and current champion Kayla Harrison — a true clash of jiu-jitsu and judo.
Hit: Vitor Petrino Finds Power At Heavyweight
Vitor Petrino bounced back in spectacular fashion. After two losses at light heavyweight, he made a successful jump to heavyweight with a knockout win over Thomas Petersen. Petrino floored Petersen in the opening round and neutralized every wrestling attempt.
Although he slowed down in the second round, Petrino needed only a few seconds in the third to land a devastating two-punch combination that ended the fight. His gas tank remains an issue, but the thin state of the heavyweight division could fast-track him into the rankings.
Hit: Jafel Filho Shines With Submission Magic
“The Pastor” Jafel Filho thrilled his home crowd with a quick submission win over Clayton Carpenter. Filho rocked Carpenter early, secured a takedown, and controlled the action with smothering top pressure.
He transitioned smoothly from a rear-naked choke attempt to a kimura lock, forcing the tap. Filho improved to 17–4 as a professional. Though his UFC record stands at 3–2, his only losses came against elite names like Muhammad Mokaev and Allan Nascimento. If given a chance against lower-ranked flyweights, Filho could soon earn a spot among the division’s best.
Hit: Michael Aswell Jr. Stuns Rio Crowd
Michael Aswell Jr. silenced the Brazilian crowd with a thunderous finish of Lucas Almeida. Aswell landed heavy shots within seconds and never let up. Almeida tried to rally but was soon seated against the cage, where Aswell finished him with precision.
This marked Aswell’s first UFC win after losing his debut to Bolaji Oki. His sharp striking and aggression suggest a bright future. Fans hope to see him return for UFC 323, where his momentum could grow even stronger.
Miss: Refereeing Controversy Strikes Again
Once again, poor officiating marred an otherwise exciting event. The first error occurred during Kaan Ofli’s victory over Ricardo Ramos. Ramos chased a leg lock near the fence, while Ofli used the cage illegally to escape. Referee Marc Goddard failed to notice or warn him. Ofli later secured a rear-naked choke for the win.
The second mistake came in Joel Alvarez’s bout against Vicente Luque. Alvarez landed a legal left hand that damaged Luque’s eye, but Luque claimed it was an eye poke. The referee initially ruled it a clean strike and waved the fight off. Moments later, confusion reigned as a doctor allowed Luque recovery time as if it had been an accidental foul.
Despite the chaos, Alvarez still won. However, these repeated officiating blunders highlight a deep issue. The sport urgently needs real-time reviews and stronger accountability for referees.
Miss: Vicente Luque’s Decline Continues
Vicente Luque’s struggles continued with another tough loss, marking his fifth defeat in seven fights. Once viewed as a title contender, Luque now finds himself far from the welterweight elite.
His performance against Alvarez was lackluster and hesitant. If granted another fight, it could be his last chance to stay in the promotion. It’s a painful sight for fans who once believed he was destined for greatness.
Hit: Deiveson Figueiredo Rediscovers His Edge
Deiveson Figueiredo finally returned to the win column after more than a year. Fighting in front of his home crowd, he controlled Montel Jackson from start to finish. Figueiredo scored an early takedown, chased multiple submissions, and outstruck Jackson throughout the fight.
He earned a decision victory, perhaps deserving a unanimous call. After losses to Petr Yan and Cory Sandhagen, this win could spark a new run. Depending on results from upcoming bantamweight clashes, Figueiredo might soon face names like Umar Nurmagomedov or Song Yadong.
Hit: Charles Oliveira Electrifies Brazil
Charles Oliveira reminded everyone why he remains one of the most thrilling fighters in MMA. In front of an adoring Rio crowd, he dominated Mateusz Gamrot with relentless grappling and precise striking.
Oliveira nearly locked in an Omoplata in the first round before tightening the pressure in the second. He ended the fight with a clean choke that sent the arena into a frenzy.
This victory marked his return after a knockout loss to Ilia Topuria. Oliveira then called out Max Holloway for a BMF title clash — a bout that fans worldwide already crave. It’s the kind of showdown that could headline any card and deliver fireworks once again in Brazil.
