A world-class fighter squaring off against just a random chess player? Not quite. But the mismatch was nearly as extreme. Charles Oliveira recently made waves when he sparred and dropped Arslan Otchiyev, a chess player and MMA fighter far below his skill level. This controversial sparring session has raised eyebrows across the MMA community.
Friendly sparring isn’t unusual in the fight game. It’s how fighters hone their skills and stay sharp. But there’s an unwritten rule: keep it light, especially with less experienced partners. Apparently, Oliveira didn’t get that memo. Otchiyev claims he was thrown to the wolves without so much as a mouthguard.
“Why did they post my beating? I was on vacation and stopped by to train. When they heard that I was speaking Russian, they put me in with Oliveira and didn’t give me any protective gear. At first, it was ok until I was exhausted, I could barely feel my hands and couldn’t stand on my feet,” said Otchiyev via Xcellent MMA.
Arslan Otchiyev is an actual fighter, not some YouTuber looking for clout. He should’ve been treated with more respect. Also, providing no headgear or mouthpiece while fighting the former lightweight champion speaks volumes about this incident.
The incident raises questions about training ethics and the line between pushing limits and just being a bully. As for Charles Oliveira, he’s got bigger fish to fry. A rematch with Michael Chandler looms at UFC 309.
Fight Fans Reacted To Charles Oliveira’s Reckless Sparring Against Russian Opponent
The former UFC lightweight champ has always been known for his calculated fighting style. But his latest sparring session has left fans and fellow fighters scratching their heads. It all started when a video surfaced online showing ‘Do Bronx’ going hard against a less experienced Russian opponent. It looked more like a beatdown than a learning experience.
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Arslan Otchiyev recently came out with his side of the story, and fight fans were not happy with Charles Oliveira. Some fans called it reckless and potentially dangerous. Other fans speculated that Oliveira might be taking out frustrations from his loss to Islam Makhachev. Here are some of the reactions from fight fans:
As the debate rages on, Charles Oliveira remains focused on his upcoming rematch with Michael Chandler. In the meantime, aspiring fighters might want to think twice before accepting a sparring invite from ‘Do Bronx’. Unless they enjoy playing the role of a human punching bag, that is.
