Despite lightweight success at UFC 210, Charles Oliveira eyeing return to 145 pounds

Charles Oliveira looked impressive in his return to lightweight at UFC 210, but that’s not stopping him from wanting to return to his longtime home — the 145-pound division.

The Brazilian kicked off the pay-per-view main card against former Bellator MMA champion and betting favorite Will Brooks, and picked up a quick standing rear-naked choke victory. This was one of Oliveira’s best performances in recent memory, and it snapped a two-fight featherweight skid.

Oliveira accepted a fight at 155 pounds after consistently missing the featherweight mark in recent bouts. Oliveira has had 12 featherweight appearances, and he’s missed weight ahead of four of them. He missed weight by 10 pounds last November ahead of his bout with Ricardo Lamas, which he would lose by submission.

Despite his many misses, the 27-year-old is adamant he wants to fight at featherweight, where he plans to hold the title, in his next bout.

“I weighed in lower to show I belong to the lower division, not the upper one,” Oliveira told reporters after UFC 210 (via MMAjunkie.com). “I had a great fight tonight, but I want to go back to 145.

“I trained very hard for this fight. Harder than ever. (There were) many emotions, with my daughter on the way. (I did) great work, but I want to go back to 145, where I want to be champion.”

Oliveira is confident he’ll be able to eliminate his weight issues should he return to featherweight. He just needs to cut weight properly with the right people, he said.

“It’s not hard (for me),” Oliveira claimed. “I think when we have the right team, and with people doing the correct job, you’re able to make it happen. That’s it.”

Oliveira doesn’t have a particular opponent in mind, but he wants to continue to rise in the 145-pound rankings.

“Right now, tomorrow, I’m ready. If I go to 145, I’m the seventh in the world,” he said. “I’ll fight anyone in my division, anyone above me. It’s what I want. We’re ready to fight any of them.”

UFC 210 took place live from KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Saturday night, and was headlined by Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson 2.