Brazilian MMA fighter makes impressive return in Vietnam

By Duc Dong   August 14, 2023 | 04:00 am PT
Brazilian MMA fighter makes impressive return in Vietnam
Robson Oliveira (R) uses a rear choke to force Phan Huy Hoang to tap out at the LION Championship 08 on August 12, 2023. Photo by LION Championship
Four months after an unfair defeat in Vietnam, Robson Oliveira marked his return with a swift win after just two minutes at the MMA tournament LION Championship 08 in Hanoi.

After the controversial loss in April, Oliveira attended other MMA tournaments in other countries and only returned to Vietnam on Saturday night in a fight with Phan Huy Hoang at the 60 kg event of LION Championship 08.

In the first round, the 36-year-old Brazilian dodged Hoang’s roundhouse kick before going behind his back. When the time came, he used a rear choke and put Hoang into a lock.

With no way to escape, the Vietnamese fighter tapped out. The referee declared a victory by submission for Oliveira after just two minutes and 22 seconds into the first round.

In April, Oliveira, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion, lost to Tran Ngoc Luong following an unjust decision at the 60 kg event of LION Championship 05 in HCMC. The Brazilian fighter dominated throughout the match but the referees gave him a loss on points.

The Vietnam Mixed Martial Arts Federation (VMMAF) admitted that there were errors in the work of the three referees in the match and suspended them.

VMMAF has committed to soon organizing a rematch for Oliveira and Luong.

The LION Championship is the first professional MMA tournament in Vietnam and hosts nine weight classes.

The total prize money for last year's first season was VND3 billion ($127,000).

 
 
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