Charles Oliveira vs Dustin Poirier — Fight recap

Charles Oliveira submitted Dustin Poirier via rear-naked choke in the third round at 1:02 to retain his lightweight title on December 11, 2021. Despite landing 73 of 131 significant strikes at 55% accuracy compared to Poirier's 58 of 94 at 61%, Oliveira's grappling dominance proved decisive—he controlled 5:41 of fight time and landed three submission attempts, with the final one proving successful.

Poirier managed one knockdown and out-struck Oliveira to the head 56 of 92, but his inability to defend the clinch and Oliveira's relentless pressure wrestling created the opening for the finish. Oliveira's submission threat forced Poirier into defensive positions that neutralized the American's striking advantage and established the Brazilian as the division's most complete threat.