[Sakara=Excitement]

Charles Oliveira: 'I Blinked and He Got Me' - Bloody Elbow

Going into his bout with Jim Miller at UFC 124, Charles Oliveira was pulling a standing-room-only hype train. The undefeated 20 year old had submitted The Ultimate Fighter winner Efrain Escudero at UFC Fight Night 22 in a judo chop worthy performance. That win brought "do Bronx" to 2-0 in the UFC and 14-0 overall. Many fans expected him to blitz past Jim Miller and cruise into title contention, but it wasn't to be.

Oliveira spoke to Tatame.com about his first loss:

Tatame: What went wrong on the fight?

Oliveira: The game plan has been set, but these things happen. I lost on that aspect I like the most, Jiu-Jitsu... It's a mistake I couldn't have done. At the time I was sad, but now I keep my head up, I'll return to my trainings and I'll hope Dana White to call me again. I can't lose my motivation. I've fought three times and won twice, I've lost to Jim Miller, a really tough guy. Everybody saw that I was on a good place at that fight. I blinked and he got me, a silly mistake.

Tatame: Did you expected that he would try to take you down right on the beginning?

Oliveira: No... I thought he'd try to fool me and trade some punches and then he's try to take me down, but it happened. I was running away from my Jiu-Jitsu, but he hit me with his elbow, I think, and I made a mistake and he got my feet. He said many crap, but it was a mistake I did and a quick move from him.

Tatame: Many say that the first loss feels like a "relief", because you are no longer pressure by your unbeaten Mark... Do you believe that now you'll get more comfortable when you have another fight to do?

Oliveira: There's no such thing... In all my fights I felt comfortable, moved forwards, independently of how many fights I had done. The only thing that changes is what Wanderlei, Shogun, Veio, Macaco, Thiago Pitbull, experienced guys, told me: "everybody was defeated once, and when you only win you lose your motivation". Now I know how it is to lose. When I won, I was happy, but today I've tasted the defeat and I no longer want it. I have to get more focused and become a better athlete. I don't want to get used to the losses, and I know how long it lasts.

I personally think Oliveira completely disrespected Jim Millers BJJ Black Belt and paid for it. Just watching Oliveira hanging out on the ground while Miller was working for the sub showed he had no regard for Millers ground skill and Miller made him tap for it. Don't sleep on your opponents Mr. Cocky.