Charles Oliveira came close to choking out Arman Tsarukyan on multiple occasions during their UFC 300 bout this past Saturday in Las Vegas, but the Armenian lightweight dug deep to emerge victorious via split decision at the T-Mobile Arena.
The former UFC champion said in an interview with Canal Encarada on Tuesday that he thought Tsarukyan went out in the third round, when he had a D’Arce choke locked in the final moments of the three-round contest.
“30 seconds [left], it was tight, one of the submissions I like the most, D’Arce choke,” Charles Oliveira said. “I thought he went out, that’s why I had my tongue out, joking, you know? But I don’t know, it’s part of the game.”
Six of Oliveira’s 21 career submissions came by way way of guillotine choke, and he lamented not being able to finish Tsarukyan with that move in the opening stanza.
“Some things aren’t meant to be,” Charles Oliveira said. “Guillotine, I don’t lose this position. Arman was a super tough guy. I connected some strikes, had bad and good moments. Three rounds, three submissions locked in, and time ran out. It wasn’t meant to be.”
The fight was tied 19-19 in all three scorecards going into the final round, and only one judge scored it in favor of the Chute Boxe talent.
“I had to finish him,” Oliveira said. “It went to the judges, and it’s their call, there’s nothing we can do. If you go back tot he first round, you’ll see I tried to finish him more and they scored it for me. The second one was closer and I ended up with a triangle choke locked in, and they gave it to him. The third, he was on top, holding me there, but wasn’t doing jiu-jitsu or anything, and I finished with a choke locked in, and they still have it to him. There’s not much we can do.”
Charles Oliveira said he’s eager to go back to the gym to train and prepare for his next bout but is in no hurry, leaving it up to his managers Diego Lima and Jorge Patino to sit down with the promotion and decide his next move. “Do Bronx” was asked of potential rematches with Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje, who met for the BMF title later that night at the T-Mobile Arena, and wonders if they’re doable right now.
“We don’t need to get desperate [to return],” Oliveira said. “I want to come back [to training] as soon as possible. Of course, a fight with Max Holloway would be wonderful, but he will definitely go back to his weight class to fight for the 145 title. Justin Gaethje hurt his nose, so we have to think [what’s the next move for me].”