Rafael Fiziev to face Charles Oliveira in UFC Rio main event

Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira is returning to the octagon. His next opponent will be dangerous striker Rafael Fiziev. The bout will headline UFC Fight Night, scheduled for October 11, 2025, in Rio de Janeiro, at Farmasi Arena. The event is unofficially dubbed UFC Rio and is set to be the biggest MMA spectacle of the autumn for Brazilian fans.

For Oliveira, this will be his first fight on home soil since March 2020. After a loss to Ilia Topuria in summer 2025, Charles is aiming to bounce back and re-establish himself in the title race. Despite the recent setback, the Brazilian remains one of the biggest stars in the lightweight division thanks to his exciting fighting style and record number of submission wins in UFC history.

Rafael Fiziev, meanwhile, has a great opportunity to break into the top 5. He recently snapped a losing streak with a dominant win over Ignacio Bahamondes and is now ready to challenge the division’s elite. A fight against Oliveira is not only a chance to rise in the rankings but also to stake a claim as a future title contender.

UFC Rio will be the first Fight Night event in Rio de Janeiro since 2015 and the promotion’s first visit to the city since UFC 301 in May 2024. Organizers promise a stacked fight card and a return of the trademark Brazilian atmosphere in the stands.

The fight is expected to be a five-round main event, with the winner positioning himself strongly for a title shot in 2026.