Charles Oliveira laments not finishing Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300, vows to ‘come back stronger’

Charles Oliveira threatened Arman Tsarukyan with multiple submission attempts at UFC 300 but ultimately lost a decision to the Russian-Armenian talent Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Removed from the title picture now, the former lightweight champion posted a video on his social media with his first comments on the fight, lamenting the fact he couldn’t force Tsarukyan to tap to the chokes in any of the three rounds.

“Not every day is going to be a day of glory,” Oliveira said in Portuguese. “It was a hard fight today. We had the opportunity to submit or even knock him out but I couldn’t find myself [in the fight].”

Oliveira planned on challenging 155-pound titleholder Islam Makhachev — or even Irish superstar Conor McGregor — with a win at UFC 300, but now goes back home with a loss on his record.

“I’m fine,” Oliveira said. “I got some stitches over my eye, I’m a bit swollen, but I’m fine. I’ve cried, it’s part [of the game]. Nothing changes. Now it’s time to just go back home and stay with my family, dedicate and train again and hope that you will continue to cheer for me because everything I’m going through in life now is wonderful. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

“What I can promise is that I will come back stronger,” he continued. “It’s the game, there’s not much to be done. I had a wonderful camp, a wonderful weight cut this week, but that’s it. Today wasn’t the day. It wasn’t meant to be. Thank you. I’m fine, and I’ll come back better.”

Tsarukyan is now riding a four-fight winning streak under the UFC banner over Oliveira, Beneil Dariush, Joaquim Silva and Damir Ismagulov, and could enter a No. 1 contender bout next. He’ll have to wait to fight for a UFC championship, as it was announced Saturday that Makhachev is slated to defend his title versus Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 on June 1.