“Do Bronx” has been stopped by strikes before in his lengthy UFC career, but this finish stands out. It’s not usual to see the Brazilian legend unconscious, let alone out cold just a couple minutes into the very first round. The Topuria defeat was actually Oliveira’s first knockout loss since 2017, and it would have been reasonable for the 35-year-old former champion to take some time off.

Instead, Oliveira is set to headline the upcoming UFC Rio card on October 11th against ferocious puncher Rafael Fiziev. It’s a risky match up both stylistically and because Oliveira is jumping into the fire again so quickly. Returning so quickly is the kind of move that can backfire, like when Alexander Volkanovski fought Topuria just three months after eating an Islam Makhachev head kick.

Retired UFC champion and color commentator Daniel Cormier doesn’t believe it’s the best decision to come back so quickly, and he questions who is looking out for Oliveira after the bout announcement.

”Charles Oliveira fighting in three months after that knockout just does not seem like the best decision,” Cormier explained. “I always wonder about the team that’s around them when people make decisions like that. Fighters always want to fight …Where are the guys that go, ‘Hey, not yet?‘ Diego Lima could go ’not quite yet’ or one of the managers.

“Especially when Charles has made a boatload of money now. He’s done really well in his career, he’s established, he’s going into the Hall of Fame. He’s one of the greats, and I just don’t want to see something crazy happen again that we saw happen last time. When Charles was champ, he got knocked down a lot. He got hurt a lot, but he’s always been able to get up and continue to fight. With Topuria, he was knocked out before he hit the ground. To see him back in three months, it’s concerning.”

In defense of Oliveira’s team and support system, the Brazilian asked for the fight himself. “Do Bronx” really wanted to fight in Rio de Janeiro in front of his national crowd, and there may not be that many opportunities to do so left in his career. If he is victorious, Oliveira is back in the win column and set up for another high-profile opponent like Max Holloway in his next bout.

We’ll see if his gamble pays off in October.