Charles Oliveira dismissed criticism from fellow fighters following his grappling-heavy victory over Max Holloway at UFC 326, saying negative reactions to his performance stem from jealousy.

Oliveira controlled Holloway across five rounds in Las Vegas on March 7 to claim the BMF title, drawing scrutiny from some within the MMA community for prioritising takedowns and ground control rather than a striking battle.

“I came in to fight a guy that nobody had dominated, nobody had taken down,” Oliveira said, according to Olhar da Luta and MMA Fighting. “Everyone who took him down, he would hit the mat and get right back up and then go on to do what he does… I came into a fight where, with all due respect, I made it look easy.”

He pointed to the effectiveness of his overall performance, highlighting both his striking and grappling success throughout the bout. “The best hands, the best kicks, I was the one landing,” Oliveira said, according to the source. “My ground game was flawless. He defended, sure, but my ground was impeccable. There wasn’t a single moment where things got bad for me.”

Oliveira also referenced previous criticism he received after engaging in a striking exchange in a past defeat, contrasting that with the reaction to his latest win. “And I got criticized for not brawling. I got criticized for it being all ground,” Oliveira added. “I think when professional fighters say that was a bad fight, that’s jealousy.”

Looking ahead, the Brazilian questioned what more is expected of him after securing a decisive victory over a highly regarded opponent. “I don’t know what they want,” Oliveira said. “For the next fight, I want them to tell me the game plan… Because if I go in there and win the fight and it’s still not good enough, then there’s nothing I can do.”

Despite falling short of a finish, Oliveira expressed satisfaction with the result and emphasised the significance of his achievement, noting he brought the BMF title to Brazil for the first time in his career.