Ultra-focused Charles Oliveira seeking 'legacy win' against Islam Makhachev in Abu Dhabi

By his own admission, Charles Oliveira estimates he was at 10 per cent of his capacity in defeat to Islam Makhachev in Abu Dhabi last October.

The Brazilian, at the time de facto UFC lightweight champion, lost comprehensively to his Dagestan opponent at Etihad Arena, his second-round submission relinquishing the vacant title he had defended spectacularly twice. It brought to a crashing halt Oliveira's impressive 11-fight win streak.

Ten months on from UFC 280, and little more than two out from the lightweight title rematch at UFC 294 back at the scene of that uncharacteristic night, Oliveira still can’t really pinpoint why it went so wrong.

“I don’t know how to explain it and don’t know why it happened,” the UFC record-holder for both submissions and victories tells The National from his Sao Paulo home. “My true fans understand who I am and what I represent.

“All my previous fights I’m always coming forward, fighting with a lot of heart. I can get knocked down, but I always get back up, go the distance. But in Abu Dhabi I wasn’t there.

“But that fight is already gone. It’s almost one year ago, so let’s focus on the future, on the now: Charles Oliveira against Islam Makhachev, October 21, for this belt. That’s what I’m focused on.”

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Making peace with the defeat, a first in a remarkable second-stage UFC career that yielded those 11 wins and lightweight gold, was the first step to getting back on track.

“In truth, I learnt a lot of things,” Oliveira says. “I learnt regardless of what happens in your life, whether you win or you lose, it’s in the past, you have to move on. You’ve got to keep looking forward; it’s already gone.

“What’s passed has passed. I’ve already won fights. Now my focus is on