Brett OkamotoSep 20, 2025, 10:16 AM ET
- Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
The UFC has lost a lightweight main event between Charles Oliveira and Rafael Fiziev on Oct. 11.
The 155-pound contest was supposed to headline UFC Fight Night in Rio de Janeiro, but Fiziev (13-4) has been forced to withdraw due to injury, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Octagon Update was first to report the news of Fiziev's injury. The UFC has not commented on Fiziev's injury or a potential replacement opponent.
Oliveira (35-11), 35, is set to compete in his home country of Brazil for the first time since March 2020. He is looking to bounce back from a knockout loss to Ilia Topuria in their June showdown for the division's vacant title.
Fiziev, 32, would have been looking to build off an upset decision win against Ignacio Bahamondes in June. Prior to that, he dropped a decision to Justin Gaethje in a short-notice fight in March.
