New UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira admits he thought about leaving MMA at one point, but is glad he decided to stay the course.
It took Oliveira 11 years to reach the top of the mountain in UFC, and along the way, he admits he thought about retiring from the sport. While he is clearly one of the most talented fighters in the game, that wasn’t always the case. In fact, at many points, he questioned his ability to succeed as a fighter in one of the toughest sports in the world.
Charles Oliveira confesses he thought about retiring from mixed martial arts
Speaking to Brazilian portal Super Lutas, Oliveira explained how he felt at the beginning of his career and why he is so glad he decided to go ahead and make MMA a part of his career.
“I thought about giving up, right from the beginning. Looking back, I see how worthwhile it was to go through everything I went through to get here. Everything I’ve been through, it sums up what I’m asking everyone today. People say, ‘I want to be a fighter. Are you willing to train?’ ‘ Today I ask, ‘Are you willing to pay the price?’ It’s not a low price. It’s a very high price. When you are ‘nobody,’ you have to leave your family, friends, party, wife, everything, in pursuit of a dream.”
In addition, the Brazilian stresses the need to be patient and move forward regardless of the fact that detractors may appear along the way.
“The same way I want it, there are two, three million others who want it. When you start to shine, you annoy others. Unfortunately, this is the bad thing about human beings. When you annoy, there are people who don’t want you to do well. It’s a painful price.”
Remember to stay up to date with the latest news on TheOvertimer. Don’t forget to visit Gamestingr for great videos, news, and gameplay!
