Most UFC fans currently know Charles Oliveira as the former UFC lightweight champ. Most of the ones aiming to get there one day have a healthy body but Do Bronx’s story is significantly different from the other UFC stars. Oliveira was born in a poor neighborhood (favelas) of Guaruja. But this isn’t the fact that makes his struggle distinct from the others. Oliveira also lived in extremely limited conditions and has seen criminal activities in his neighborhood since he was a child.
But, no other fighter in the UFC has probably faced more severe issues with childhood diseases than Oliveira. At the upcoming UFC 309 PPV, Oliveira will have his rematch against his former rival, Michael Chandler, in the co-main event inside Madison Square Garden. But the ones who witnessed his childhood could’ve never imagined that he would make it to this level one day.
Due to the poor economy and unhygienic conditions in the favelas, the children living there often fell victim to severe diseases. Unfortunately, the 35-year-old was also one of those kids whose diseases took a severe toll on his body. Their attack was so severe that one of Oliveira’s doctors predicted that he would never be able to walk again. So let’s dive right in to learn more about the diseases that plagued Oliveira through his childhood.
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Did Charles Oliveira suffer from rheumatic fever diseases?
Several reports suggest that rheumatic fevers mostly affect individuals between the ages of 6-16. Well, they proved to be true in Oliveira’s case as well. ‘Do Bronx’ was diagnosed with rheumatic fever when he was just seven years of age. Rheumatic fever also takes a heavy toll on a few other body parts, apart from the symptoms of a normal fever.
via Imago MMA: UFC 289-Oliveira vs Dariush Jun 10, 2023 Vancouver, BC, Canada Charles Oliveira reacts following his TKO victory against Beneil Dariush during UFC 289 at Rogers Arena. Vancouver Rogers Arena BC Canada, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xSergeixBelskix 20230610_gav_bb9_116
It causes the valves of the heart to weaken and also takes a heavy toll on the joints and bones of the affected person. Oliveira’s rheumatic fever was also a dreaded one. In an interview with ‘ESPN’, Oliveira’s mother, Ozona, revealed how little Oliveira struggled with pain throughout his body and had difficulty moving. Well, most fans might have already realized that it was the effects of rheumatic fever.
It also hampered the joints in Oliveira’s ankle so badly, that one of his doctors predicted that he might never be able to walk again. Oliveira also suffered from heart murmurs during this time from the weakened condition of his heart due to the disease. He often had difficulty in breathing as well.
How bad is Charles Oliveira’s eyesight?
Well, Oliveira might have been diagnosed with a single disease of rheumatic fever. But it ruined a number of his body parts. We have already mentioned how the dreaded disease weakened Oliveira’s heart and reduced his bone strength alarmingly. But they weren’t the only complications presented by his rheumatic fever.
The limited blood flow in the retinal artery due to the fever may cause permanent damage to the eyes. Although Oliveira beat his doctor’s prediction of not being able to walk again, he and his family couldn’t do much about his eyesight.
In an interview on the YouTube channel, ‘Brazilian MMA Legends’, Oliveira found himself subjected to a question about his eyesight. He replied, “If I take off my glasses, I can only see fifty percent”.
But most fans may be currently puzzled about what Oliveira does during his fights. We all know that stepping into the octagon with glasses isn’t an option. However, Oliveira said in the same interview that his vision doesn’t affect him in his fights. Well, it may be due to his sheer determination that he doesn’t feel the effects of his decreased vision.
Was Charles Oliveira paralyzed? His career-threatening injury
There’s a reason behind MMA being called the sport of blood and injuries. It requires defeating rivals physically, which increases the chances of bodily injuries. Quite understandably, Oliveira also isn’t immune to injuries and has picked up a lot of them to date.
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The Brazilian had an injured shoulder while he was scheduled to take on the BMF champ Max Holloway, at the main event of UFC Fight Night 74 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. But Oliveira ignored his injury and took the octagon after a little physiotherapy of his injured shoulder. However, he hit the bad spot again when he attempted a takedown on Holloway.
Although Holloway provided him the opportunity to stand back up, the pain was too much for Oliveira to continue. He eventually gave up, which had the noted referee Herb Dean stopping the fight.
via Imago PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 07: Charles Oliveira of Brazil prepares to fight Justin Gaethje in the UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC 274 event at Footprint Center on May 07, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Although the doctors surrounding Oliveira didn’t provide a clear vision, it didn’t seem that he got paralyzed by the injury. In an interview with ‘MMA Fighting,’ he revealed, “When I fell against the cage everything went numb, I couldn’t feel my body”.
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But the Oliveira back then was a lot different from the former UFC lightweight champ we know today. Fans don’t believe that he will have anything like quitting in his mind when he takes on Michael Chandler, whom he’s already bested in the past. But do you think history will repeat itself at UFC 309? Let us know in the comments down below.
What Medical Condition Did Charles Oliveira Have?
