Introduction
Alex Oliveira (born February 21, 1988) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Mixed martial arts career
Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Oliveira worked for a time as a construction worker and bull rider before he starting training in martial arts. He also trained in Muay Thai for a couple of years before switching to mixed martial arts at the age of 22.Fighting out of Três Rios, he made his professional debut competing in the welterweight division in December 2011.He compiled a record of 10-1-1 (1), including a two-fight stint for Bitetti Combat while competing exclusively for regional promotions in his native Brazil.After taking a unanimous decision victory over Joilton Santos, Oliveira signed with the UFC in early 2015.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Oliveira made his promotional debut as a short notice replacement against Gilbert Burns on March 21, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 62, filling in for an injured Josh Thomson.After arguably winning each of the first two rounds, Oliveira eventually lost via submission in the third round.
For his second fight in the UFC, Oliveira was again tabbed asshort notice replacement and faced K.J. Noons on May 30, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 67, filling in for Yan Cabral. Oliveira won the fight via submission in the first round.
Competing in his third UFC fight in just over three months, Oliveira faced promotional newcomer Joe Merritt on June 27, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 70.Oliveira won the fight by unanimous decision.
Oliveira faced Piotr Hallmann in a lightweight bout on November 7, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 77. He won the fight by knockout in the third round.The win also earned Oliveira his first Performance of the Night bonus award.
Oliveira fought Donald Cerrone on February 21, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 83, filling in for Tim Means. Oliveira lost the fight via submission in the first round.
Oliveira faced James Moontasri on July 23, 2016 at UFC on Fox 20. He won the one-sided fight via unanimous decision.
Oliveira next faced Will Brooks in a lightweight bout on October 1, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 96. The bout took place at a catchweight of 161.5 lbs, as Oliveira missed weight. Oliveira won the fight via KO in the third round.
Oliveira faced Tim Means on December 30, 2016 at UFC 207. The bout was halted in the first round after Means landed several knees to the head of Oliveira while he was considered a grounded opponent. As a result, Oliveira was unable to continue after the foul occurred. Subsequently, referee Dan Miragliotta judged that the foul was accidental, and in turn, the result was scored a No Contest.
A rematch with Means eventually took place on March 11, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 106. Oliveira won the bout via submission in the second round.
Oliveira faced Ryan LaFlare on July 22, 2017 at UFC on Fox 25. He won the fight via knockout in the second round, after landing a well timed right uppercut. He was awarded his second Performance of the Night bonus award.
Oliveira faced Yancy Medeiros on December 2, 2017 at UFC 218. He lost the back-and-forth fight via TKO in the third round. Despite the loss, Oliveira earned his first Fight of the Night bonus award for the fight.
Oliveira defeated Carlos Conditon April 14, 2018 at UFC on Fox 29, after replacing injured Matt Brown. He won the fight via a guillotine choke. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night bonus award.
Oliveira was expected to face Neil Magny on September 22, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 137. However Magny was removed from the pairing on August 22 in favor of a matchup with Santiago Ponzinibbio in November at UFC Fight Night 140,he was replaced by Carlo Pedersoli Jr. Oliveira won the fight via knockout just 39 seconds into the first round.
Oliveira faced Gunnar Nelson on December 8, 2018 at UFC 231. He lost the fight via a rear-naked choke in round two.
Oliveira was expected to face Li Jingliang on April 27, 2019 at UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson. However, it was reported on March 23, 2019 that Li was injured and was forced to pull from the bout. He was replaced by Mike Perry. Oliveira lost the back-and-forth fight by unanimous decision. The bout also earned Oliveira his second Fight of the Night bonus award.
Oliveira faced returning veteran Nicolas Dalby on September 28, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 18. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Subsequently the decision was appealed on grounds of erroneous action by the referee.
Oliveira was expected to face Mickey Gall on February 29, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 169. However, on December 27, 2019 the bout was pulled from the event by UFC. The bout will not be replaced and no reason was given from UFC. Oliveira was quickly rescheduled and instead faced Max Griffin the following week at UFC 248. He won the back-and-forth fight via split decision.
Oliveira is expected to face Peter Sobotta on July 25, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Till.
Personal life
Oliveira is nicknamed "Cowboy" due to formerly being a rodeo bullrider.
Oliveira has nine children from various relationships.
Grenade attack on Christmas Eve 2018
Oliveira suffered a leg injury and went for a surgery on Christmas Eve in 2018 to remove fragments of a grenade when he went to get gasoline for his mother’s car in Tres Rios, Brazil and a grenade was thrown toward his direction while his family members were in an altercation with thugs armed with machetes, knives and a grenade.
Incidents in May 2019
According to reports, seemingly intoxicated Oliveira got into an altercation with a security guard during a party on May 24, 2019. In the next morning, Oliveira showed up at his wife's apartment where he allegedly assaulted her, fleeing the scene on a motorcycle with their baby daughter. The child was found on May 26 at one of Oliveira's sister's apartment, and Oliveira had generally been understood to be reported missing until his early March 2020 arrival in Las Vegas for the UFC 248 fight card which he competed on. In an interview Oliveira denied punching his wife but did not comment on other indictments. Oliveira also said they were only having an argument and that they haven't separated: on the contrary his wife is pregnant again.
Championships and accomplishments
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (Three times)
- Fight of the Night (Two times)
- ESPN
- 2017 Fight of the Year
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 31 matches | 20 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 12 | 1 |
| By submission | 4 | 4 |
| By decision | 4 | 3 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| No contests | 2 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 20–8–1 (2) | Max Griffin | Decision (split) | UFC 248 | March 7, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 19–8–1 (2) | Nicolas Dalby | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Cannonier | September 28, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Copenhagen, Denmark | |
| Loss | 19–7–1 (2) | Mike Perry | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson | April 27, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Sunrise, Florida, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 19–6–1 (2) | Gunnar Nelson | Submission (rear naked choke) | UFC 231 | December 8, 2018 | 2 | 4:17 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| Win | 19–5–1 (2) | Carlo Pedersoli Jr. | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Anders | September 22, 2018 | 1 | 0:39 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 18–5–1 (2) | Carlos Condit | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje | April 14, 2018 | 2 | 3:17 | Glendale, Arizona, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 17–5–1 (2) | Yancy Medeiros | TKO (punches) | UFC 218 | December 2, 2017 | 3 | 2:02 | Detroit, Michigan, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 17–4–1 (2) | Ryan LaFlare | KO (punch) | UFC on Fox: Weidman vs. Gastelum | July 22, 2017 | 2 | 1:50 | Uniondale, New York, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 16–4–1 (2) | Tim Means | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Gastelum | March 11, 2017 | 2 | 2:38 | Fortaleza, Brazil | |
| NC | 15–4–1 (2) | Tim Means | NC (illegal knees) | UFC 207 | December 30, 2016 | 1 | 3:33 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Means landed several knees to Oliveira's head, who was considered a downed opponent. |
| Win | 15–4–1 (1) | Will Brooks | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Lineker vs. Dodson | October 1, 2016 | 3 | 3:30 | Portland, Oregon, United States | Originally scheduled as a Lightweight bout. Later changed to a Catchweight (161.5 lb) bout; Oliveira missed weight. |
| Win | 14–4–1 (1) | James Moontasri | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Holm vs. Shevchenko | July 23, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 13–4–1 (1) | Donald Cerrone | Submission (triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Cowboy | February 21, 2016 | 1 | 2:33 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States | |
| Win | 13–3–1 (1) | Piotr Hallmann | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson 3 | November 7, 2015 | 3 | 0:51 | São Paulo, Brazil | Lightweight bout. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 12–3–1 (1) | Joe Merritt | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Romero | June 27, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 11–3–1 (1) | K.J. Noons | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Alves | May 30, 2015 | 1 | 2:51 | Goiânia, Brazil | |
| Loss | 10–3–1 (1) | Gilbert Burns | Submission (armbar) | UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. LaFlare | March 21, 2015 | 3 | 4:14 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Lightweight bout. |
| Win | 10–2–1 (1) | Joilton Santos | Decision (unanimous) | Face to Face 10 | February 21, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Itaboraí, Brazil | |
| Win | 9–2–1 (1) | Douglas Aparecido | TKO (punches) | Watch Out Combat Show 38 | October 18, 2014 | 1 | 2:52 | Ubá, Brazil | Catchweight (163 lb) bout. |
| Win | 8–2–1 (1) | Ederson Moreira | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Watch Out Combat Show 36 | July 18, 2014 | 1 | 4:18 | Três Rios, Brazil | Catchweight (165 lb) bout. |
| NC | 7–2–1 (1) | Rogerio Matias | NC (overturned) | CEF 10 | May 29, 2014 | 1 | 5:00 | Maceió, Brazil | For the CEF Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–2–1 | Fabio Lima Ferreira | TKO (punches) | Bitetti Combat 19 | February 6, 2014 | 1 | 4:26 | Manaus, Brazil | |
| Win | 6–2–1 | Thiago Macedo | TKO (punches) | Watch Out Combat Show 27 | August 2, 2013 | 1 | 2:40 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Draw | 5–2–1 | Kenedy Gualande Andrade | Draw (unanimous) | Luta Contra o Crack | June 23, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 5–2 | Jone Guilherme Garcia | TKO (punches) | Bitetti Combat 15 | May 11, 2013 | 2 | 2:03 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Loss | 4–2 | Wendell Oliveira | Decision (unanimous) | Watch Out Combat Show 25 | April 12, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 4–1 | Daniel Silva | TKO (doctor stoppage) | JF Fight Evolution | October 6, 2012 | 1 | 5:00 | Juiz de Fora, Brazil | |
| Win | 3–1 | Fabi Ohany | TKO (punches) | Vicosa Fight 2 | August 25, 2012 | 1 | 1:43 | Viçosa, Brazil | |
| Win | 2–1 | Leandro Beinrothi | TKO (knees) | Big Fights Champions | June 30, 2012 | 1 | 0:57 | Nova Serrana, Brazil | |
| Loss | 1–1 | Wallace Dantas | Submission (triangle choke) | ATS Kombat 1 | May 26, 2012 | 1 | 1:03 | Senador Firmino, Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | Rodrigo Rodrigo | KO (punches) | Ervalia Fight | December 10, 2011 | 1 | N/A | Ervália, Brazil |