ABU DHABI – With his back against the wall, Alex Oliveira has turned things around in 2020.
Oliveira (22-8-1 MMA, 11-6 UFC) defeated Peter Sobotta via unanimous decision at UFC on ESPN 14 on Saturday, marking his second straight win.
At one point Oliveira had won six of eight fights, enduring a rough stretch from late 2018 through 2019 when he suffered three straight losses to Gunnar Nelson, Mike Perry, and Nicolas Dalby.
However, Oliveira was able to snap that losing streak with a split decision win over Max Griffin at UFC 248 in March, followed by a win over Sobotta, which he hopes propels him one step closer to cracking the top 15 welterweight rankings.
“I hope this shows that ‘Cowboy’ is back (and) that I’m strong,” Oliveira told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during the post-fight news conference. “I had a few hiccups like any other fighter will have, but I hope this shows that I’m back and puts me back in the top 15 maybe this fight or the next fight.”
Oliveira is looking to keep this momentum going, but with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, that might be a little difficult. However, should the UFC return to Abu Dhabi later in the year, he wants in.
“I gotta talk to my manager and my coaches,” Oliveira said. “I’m in one piece, I’m ready to fight again, but obviously the pandemic shut the world down. Maybe we come back to “Fight Island.”
Oliveira continued, “I hope to be back still this year, I hope our boss puts us back in there. The pandemic has kinda stopped the world, Brazilians can’t enter the U.S. so we will see.”
UFC on ESPN 14 took place Saturday at Flash Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The main card and prelims simulcasted on ESPN and ESPN+.
