Oliveira dominates Ferguson in UFC 256 co-headliner
There's no doubt Charles Oliveira is one of the best lightweights on the planet.
Oliveira defeated former interim champion Tony Ferguson via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26) in the UFC 256 co-main event Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
"Do Bronx" dominated the fight from start to finish, with his best work coming on the ground. Oliveira took Ferguson down in the first round and got into full mount. He battered his opponent with strikes and maintained control on the mat, then attempted a nasty armbar at the end of the frame that nearly forced Ferguson to tap out.
Oliveira quickly secured takedowns in the second and third rounds, attempting a variety of submissions throughout while not allowing Ferguson to land much offense in the latter half of the contest. Ferguson didn't appear to use his left arm much after the armbar attempt, making the broadcast commentators wonder if it was damaged.
With the victory, Oliveira extended his winning streak to eight and could be next in line for a lightweight title shot. The 31-year-old Brazilian entered as the No. 7-ranked contender, while Ferguson was No. 3.
Ferguson, 36, won 12 fights in a row from 2013-19 but is now riding a two-bout skid.