Charles Oliveira’s fight shorts have become an extension of his identity inside the octagon, closely mirroring his evolution from dangerous submission specialist to lightweight champion and perennial contender. Throughout the most successful stretch of his career, Oliveira has overwhelmingly favored gladiator-style shorts, most notably in yellow. This consistent choice coincided with his historic run of finishes, record-breaking submission totals, and eventual capture of the UFC Lightweight Championship, making the yellow gladiator shorts one of the most recognizable looks in the division.
Even subtle variations, including gray and custom gladiator shorts, appeared during key title fights and late-career matchups, but the core style remained unchanged. This visual consistency reflects Oliveira’s reliance on fluid movement, aggressive grappling transitions, and relentless pressure, all of which align naturally with the freedom of motion offered by gladiator-cut shorts.
Below is a chronological breakdown of Charles "Do Bronx" Oliveira's UFC fights starting with UFC 225, the start of his legendary winning streak, focusing on his choice of shorts for each bout.
UFC Fights Chronologically with Charles Oliveira's Shorts
UFC 225 vs. Clay Guida (June 9, 2018)
- Shorts: Yellow Gladiator Shorts
- Outcome: Win via Submission (guillotine choke)
- Notes: Performance of the Night.
- Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States
UFC Fight Night vs. Christos Giagos (September 22, 2018)
- Shorts: Yellow Gladiator Shorts
- Outcome: Win via Submission (rear-naked choke)
- Notes: Broke the UFC record for most submission wins (11). Performance of the Night.
- Location: São Paulo, Brazil
UFC on Fox vs. Jim Miller (December 15, 2018)
- Shorts: Yellow Gladiator Shorts
- Outcome: Win via Submission (rear-naked choke)
- Notes: Performance of the Night.
- Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
UFC Fight Night vs. David Teymur (February 2, 2019)
- Shorts: Yellow Gladiator Shorts
- Outcome: Win via Submission (anaconda choke)
- Notes: Teymur was deducted one point in round 1 due to an eye poke. Performance of the Night.
- Location: Fortaleza, Brazil
UFC Fight Night vs. Nik Lentz (May 18, 2019)
- Shorts: Yellow Gladiator Shorts
- Outcome: Win via TKO (punches)
- Notes:
- Location: Rochester, New York, United States
UFC Fight Night vs. Jared "Flash" Gordon (November 16, 2019)
- Shorts: Yellow Gladiator Shorts
- Outcome: Win via KO (punches)
- Notes: Performance of the Night.
- Location: São Paulo, Brazil
UFC Fight Night vs. Kevin "The Mowtown Phenom" Lee (March 14, 2020)
- Shorts: Yellow Gladiator Shorts
- Outcome: Win via Submission (guillotine choke)
- Notes: Catchweight (158.5 lb) bout; Lee missed weight. Performance of the Night.
- Location: Brasília, Brazil
UFC 256 vs. Tony "El Cucuy" Ferguson (December 12, 2020)
- Shorts: Yellow Gladiator Shorts
- Outcome: Win via Decision (unanimous)
- Notes:
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
UFC 262 vs. Michael "Iron" Chandler (May 15, 2021)
- Shorts: Yellow Gladiator Shorts
- Outcome: Win via TKO (punches)
- Notes: Won the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship. Broke the UFC record for most finishes (17). Performance of the Night.
- Location: Houston, Texas, United States
UFC 269 vs. Dustin "The Diamond" Poirier (December 11, 2021)
- Shorts: Gray Gladiator Shorts
- Outcome: Win via Submission (rear-naked choke)
- Notes: Defended the UFC Lightweight Championship. Performance of the Night.
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
UFC 274 vs. Justin "The Highlight" Gaethje (May 7, 2022)
- Shorts: Gray Gladiator Shorts
- Outcome: Win via Submission (rear-naked choke)
- Notes: Oliveira missed weight (155.5 lb) and was stripped of the UFC Lightweight Championship. Only Gaethje was eligible to win the title.
- Location: Phoenix, Arizona, United States
UFC 280 vs. Islam Makhachev (October 22, 2022)
- Shorts: Yellow Gladiator Shorts
- Outcome: Loss via Submission (arm-triangle choke)
- Notes: For the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship.
- Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
UFC 289 vs. Beneil Dariush (June 10, 2023)
- Shorts: Yellow Gladiator Shorts
- Outcome: Win via TKO (punches)
- Notes: Performance of the Night.
- Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
UFC 300 vs. Arman Tsarukyan (April 13, 2024)
- Shorts: Yellow Gladiator Shorts
- Outcome: Loss via Decision (split)
- Notes:
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
UFC 309 vs. Michael "Iron" Chandler (November 16, 2024)
- Shorts: Custom Gladiator Shorts
- Outcome: Win via Decision (unanimous)
- Notes: Fight of the Night.
- Location: New York City, New York, United States
UFC 317 vs. Ilia "El Matador" Topuria (June 28, 2025)
- Shorts: Custom Gladiator Shorts
- Outcome: Loss via KO (punches)
- Notes: For the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship.
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
UFC Fight Night vs. Mateusz "Gamer" Gamrot (October 11, 2025)
- Shorts: Custom Gladiator Shorts
- Outcome: Win via Submission (face crank)
- Notes: Extended the UFC record for most finishes (21) and most submissions (17). Performance of the Night.
- Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Looking across his UFC career as a whole, Charles Oliveira’s shorts choices track closely with his rise, peak, and continued longevity at the highest level. His championship win, multiple title defenses, and record-setting finishes all came while wearing gladiator shorts, reinforcing their association with his most dominant performances. Even as his career extended into custom designs and high-profile bouts later on, Oliveira’s commitment to the gladiator style underscored a fighter who found comfort, confidence, and success in a familiar look. Much like his fighting style, Oliveira’s shorts tell the story of persistence, adaptation, and one of the most prolific finishing careers in UFC history.