Prior to each UFC card, Jay Primetown takes a close look at debuting fighters. In the latest installment, we look at Alex Oliveira as he takes on Blackzilians fighter Gilbert Burns at UFC Fight Night 62 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira Hometown: Tres Rios, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Age: 26 Height: 5’11” Reach: 69” Weight Class: Lightweight Camp: Tata Fight Team Career Record: 10-1-1 Key Wins: None Key Losses: None Background “Cowboy” Oliveira made his mark on the regional scene getting eight of his 10 wins by knockout. He’s a fun fighter on the feet with a rather reckless style. The nickname “Cowboy” is very fitting for him. Strengths
- Confident fighter
- Willing and able to attack in a variety of ways
- Underrated offensive wrestling
- Strong ground and pound
Weaknesses
- Striking defense requires a lot of work
- Too wild with his striking leaving himself vulnerable to counters
- Struggles with opponents when he cannot be the bully
- Offers very little ability off his back
Matchup with Gilbert Burns Alex Oliveira takes this fight on short notice as he’s been asked to take on one of the top prospects in the division in Gilbert Burns. A rare all Brazilian affair on the main card at the Maracanazinho in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This really should be an entertaining fight for as long as it lasts. The nickname for Alex Oliveira is perfect for him as his stand up game is reminiscent of Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. In this matchup, that recklessness will be his downfall. Burns is a very calculated fighter. He’s a pretty adept counterstriker with an all-world submission game on the ground. Look for Burns to capitalize on one of Cowboy’s mistakes securing an advanced position on the ground leading to a submission win. A play on Burns by submission (+100) is available on fight day at Several Bookmakers and is worth consideration. UFC Ceiling Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira has a good offensive skill set. He varies up his striking well combining punches and kicks. He hits with decent power and has shown he can be quite effective in top control. When he’s able to dictate the terms of the fight, he’s shown to be a dominant man to deal with. As he enters the UFC, that will normally not be the case. He will be facing opponents more athletic than he is with a more sound technical skill set. Expect “Cowboy” to put on some fun fights in the UFC, but unless he harnesses in some of that aggression to avoid mistakes, he won’t amount to more than a .500 fighter in the octagon. Fight Film Check out Alex Oliveira in some of his recent fights: Alex Oliveira vs. Ederson Moreira
Alex Oliveira vs. Denilson Neves
Alex Oliveira vs. Rogerio Matias de Conceicao