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MMA

Charles Oliveira Beats Justin Gaethje, But UFC Lightweight Title Remains Vacant

Charles Oliveira managed to defeat Justin Gaethje in their latest face-off at UFC 274 but still failed to walk away with the title. The Brazilian MMA star was stripped of the belt before the fight even took place because he failed to make the weight. Oliveira came into the fight knowing he won’t be able to walk away with the title. At the weigh-ins, he weighed in at 155.5 pounds, half a pound over the divisional title limit, and it immediately became clear that only Gaethje could take the belt at the end of the fight. Despite Gaethje's best attempts, Oliveira came out victorious, extending his winning streak to 11. The UFC title may be vacant right now, but he still sees himself as a champion and believes he deserves the belt. "There's something wrong here. The champion's name is Charles Oliveira. I made weight Thursday and you took my belt away. I'm a problem for the entire division. I am the champion. This is my title. It should be here," said Oliveira said in his post-fight interview. Several fighters publicly questioned the accuracy of the scale after Oliveira was stripped of the title. The UFC president Dana White addressed the scale controversy, saying that they have rules and that Oliveira remains the no. 1 contender for the lightweight title after the fight.