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Charles Oliveira Breaks UFC Record with Most Awarded Post-Fight Prize Money Bonuses

Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVJune 11, 2023

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 09: Charles Oliveira of Brazil poses on the scale during the UFC 289 official weigh-in at the Westin Bayshore on June 09, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Charles Oliveira made history with his first-round TKO of Beneil Dariush at UFC 289 on Saturday.

The Brazilian earned a Performance of the Night bonus along with Mike Malott and Steve Erceg. MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew noted his 19 career post-fight bonuses are the most ever for a UFC fighter.

ESPN MMA @espnmma

Charles Oliveira received his 19th post-fight bonus, a new UFC record 👏<br><br>SHOW HIM THE MONEY 💵 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC289?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC289</a> <a href="https://t.co/f9gVqP2wRw">pic.twitter.com/f9gVqP2wRw</a>

Oliveira landed more than twice as many signature strikes (26) as Dariush (12), and all but three of those targeted his opponent's head. He opened the fight by connecting on a head kick, and that set the tone for the brief encounter.

UFC @ufc

CHARLES OLIVEIRA'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE!!<a href="https://twitter.com/CharlesDoBronxs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CharlesDoBronxs</a> stops Beneil Dariush in the first at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC289?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC289</a>! <a href="https://t.co/OWMWlddKWL">pic.twitter.com/OWMWlddKWL</a>

It was an emphatic statement from the 33-year-old coming off his second-round submission defeat to Islam Makhachev at UFC 280 last October. Makhachev tried to rain on his parade a little bit on social media.

Makhachev Islam @MAKHACHEVMMA

Congrats Charles. <br>But still there's levels in this game 😎

A rematch may not be too long in the offing.

Oliveira entered Saturday night as the No. 1-ranked challenger in the lightweight division, and UFC president Dana White already tipped his hand as to Makhachev's next title defense. He said he's intrigued by the idea of a return bout with Oliveira but stopped short of confirming the matchup.

MMAFighting.com @MMAFighting

Dana White says he's "excited" for Charles Oliveira to rematch Islam Makhachev 👀 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC289?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC289</a> <br><br>"Let's not play games, that fight makes sense, that's the fight that should happen, and I'm excited to see it again." <a href="https://t.co/7sxTBAPjIn">pic.twitter.com/7sxTBAPjIn</a>

On that occasion, Oliveira would probably be happy to bypass a 20th post-fight bonus if it meant regaining the lightweight title.