UFC lightweight king Charles Oliveira has become the undisputed best 155-pound MMA fighter on the planet with only 50% vision during fights.
Oliveira’s (32-8) exploits over the last four years in winning 10-straight and earning UFC gold have been well documented. And the fact that he has reached the mountain top of the best division in the sport while having far from perfect vision is something most fans are also well aware of.
However, observers of the industry don’t know the full extent of how poor “do Bronx’s” vision is during his bouts. Fans have seen him remove his Clark Kent-like glasses before he enters the Octagon, and naturally assume that while not optimal his vision must be good enough to where he can compete at an elite level on the biggest stage in the sport. well, it seems his vision is even worse than that.
Charles Oliveira only has 50% vision in his fights
In a video interview posted on the Brazilian MMA Legends YouTube channel, Olivera went in-depth on his eyesight during a fight, and how it is only half as good as it is when his glasses are on.
“I see three [people]. If I’m hitting the middle, it’s alright. I think if I keep this same technique, [fighting] three guys for me is perfect. If I’m hitting the middle one, it’s alright,” Oliveira said in Portuguese [h/t BloodyElbow]. “If I take off my glasses, I can only see fifty percent. But it never hindered me in the fight. Sometimes, I walk in without the glasses, sometimes I walk in with the glasses. It depends on my vibe. Sometimes, I like to walk in with glasses to look harmless and more nerdy than I already am.”
Although he can compete without issue in the Octagon sans spectacles, it doesn’t mean he can go without his prescription eyewear in everyday situations. Actually, the champ admits he is damn near blind in the real world, but that a bit of divine intervention — or most likely adrenaline — helps to give him “normal” sight when it’s time to scrap in the cage.
“When I take off my glasses, it’s normal. I can see my opponent on the other side. God blesses me so much that I can see normal,” he said. “But on the street, if I take it off, I’m blind.”
Over his last 10 fights, Oliviera has beaten and finished a who’s-who of UFC lightweights. Including Dustin Poirier, Tony Ferguson, Michael Chandler, and Clay Guida.
Does knowing how poor the lightweight champion’s vision is while fighting only add to his fast-growing legacy?
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