Brazilian fighter sparks controversy for withdrawing from Vietnam MMA title defense match

Oliveira was set to face Vietnam's Tran Ngoc Luong in the main event of Lion Championship 24 in Hanoi on July 12. However, on May 22, he announced that he had suffered a fractured left fibula, an injury sustained during his defeat to Uzbekistan’s Avazbek Kholmizraev at the 107th event of ONE Championship, Asia’s premier MMA promotion, on May 9.

"After the match, I didn't realize my bone was broken and went on with my life. I only found out after getting an X-ray," Oliveira wrote on Facebook. "I regret that I cannot compete at LC 24 because I need time to recover."

Robson Oliveira with his broken leg in cast and the X-ray scan result. Photo by Facebook/Robson Oliveira

The 30-year-old apologized to the Lion Championship organizers, his opponent Luong, and fans for withdrawing from the highly anticipated main event. He emphasized that it would be disrespectful to fight while physically and mentally unprepared.

"I’m returning the LC championship belt out of honor. I did this because of humility and sincerity," he said. "I want to thank the organizers for their patience, and to Ngoc Luong and his team for understanding."

Oliveira affirmed that he will return stronger in the future and he hopes fans will forgive him.

However, his withdrawal has drawn criticism.

Luong publicly questioned Oliveira’s professionalism, noting that the Brazilian had signed a contract to defend his Lion Championship title yet still chose to compete in ONE Championship just two months before the scheduled match.

"Vietnamese fighters may be smaller, but we never back down," Luong said. "If Robson respected Vietnam and Lion Championship, he wouldn’t have fought in ONE Championship before this title defense."

This is not the first time Oliveira has backed out of a Lion Championship title defense. In 2024, he agreed to fight Pham Van Nam, the 56 kg champion but canceled, citing a schedule conflict with ONE Championship.

Nguyen Hoai Nam, coach at MMA club AGOGE, added: "People can say Van Nam and Luong wouldn't beat Robson, but we challenged him. We’re always ready and don’t make excuses."

The poster for Robson Oliveira's Lion Championship 60kg title defense against Tran Ngoc Luong on July 12, 2025. Photo by Lion Championship

In professional MMA, it is common for a champion to drop their championship belt if they are unable to defend it for a long time. Promotions also reserve the right to strip fighters of titles for serious violations, such as going overweight, misconduct or legal issues.

Oliveira’s withdrawal has disrupted Lion Championship’s event planning and promotion efforts. Organizers are now considering replacement options, including finding a new opponent for Luong.

Nicknamed "The Monkey King," Oliveira is a well-known fighter in Vietnam’s MMA scene. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist, he holds a record of 10 wins and 3 losses across promotions like ONE Championship (3–1), Angel’s Fighting Championship (3–0), and Lion Championship (2–1).

Luong, 30, began with vovinam before transitioning to kickboxing and jiu-jitsu. He entered the MMA scene in 2023 and currently holds a record of 8 wins and 1 loss, with his sole defeat coming against Japan’s Kaito Oda at ONE Championship in 2024.

Luong made his MMA debut against Oliveira at Lion Championship in April 2023, a controversial match where Oliveira dominated with takedowns, yet Luong won by decision. The outcome led to disciplinary action against the three judges by the Vietnam Mixed Martial Arts Federation.