Last night, in the co-main event of the UFC’s latest trip to Portland, Brazil’s Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira secured what was by far the biggest win of his 21-fight career, TKOing former Bellator lightweight champion Will Brooks in the third round.
In doing so, Oliveira became just the second man ever to defeat Brooks. Unfortunately, there are some real asterisks attached to the Brazilian’s massive win.
First and foremost is the fact that Oliveira missed weight for the bout – and not just by a bit. Where small weigh-in misses of a pound or two are fairly common, and ultimately somewhat forgivable, Oliveira missed the lightweight division’s 155-pound cap by a whopping 5.5 lbs, tipping the scales at 161.5. This, of course didn’t go over well with Brooks.
Had Oliveira then defeated Brooks and proceeded to apologize for this hiccup on the scales, it would have been a little easier to celebrate his win. Instead, however, the Brazilian lightweight cast a shadow on his own victory by bombarding the dazed Brooks with an onslaught of unsportsmanlike gestures.
Not surprisingly, Oliveira’s weigh-in miss and post-fight taunting did not go over well with very many fighters – such as UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, who served as Octagon-side color commentator for the card.
Here’s how some of the game’s other top fighters reacted to Oliveira’s controversy ridden win in Portland:
https://twitter.com/HollywoodCase/status/782436564718661632
Well look at that. Will Broke.
— Kevin MTP Lee (@MoTownPhenom) October 2, 2016
Getting the fans to hate you. That's some #AntiCowboyShit
— Kevin MTP Lee (@MoTownPhenom) October 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/CubSwanson/status/782437570449858561
What a dick. Missed weight very badly, and going Degeneration-X? I really don't understand that one. He was barely winning. #UFCPortland
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) October 2, 2016
Sighhhh I don't know about that one. 5 lbs over weight… #UFCPortland
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) October 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/colemillerATT/status/782436705458528256
No class
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) October 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/thugjitsumaster/status/782438371729604610
Wtf how can you celebrate like that when your 5lbs over weight shame on you #cowboy @ufc
— Truck Gordon (@TruckMMA_UFC) October 2, 2016
You ungrateful mother fucker @AlexCowboyUFC . Better hope we don't cross paths @AmericanTopTeam il destroy your face!!! #UFCPortland https://t.co/mVnle6XMNs
— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) October 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/NinaAnsaroff/status/782437701832376320
https://twitter.com/EricSpicely/status/782437614452346880
https://twitter.com/EricSpicely/status/782438428763914240
Needless to say, Oliveira isn’t especially popular among his peers at the moment. All the same, the Brazilian will leave Portland with a massive win over a highly-regarded opponent.
Now 15-4-1 overall, he’s currently on a two-fight win-streak, having rebounded from a loss to Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone with defeats of James Moontasri and now Brooks. After his weight miss in Portland, he expressed his intention to compete at welterweight from here on out.
What did you think of Oliveira’s big win and questionable, post-fight display? Sound off, PENN nation!