Charles Oliveira-Justin Gaethje Lightweight Title Clash Set for UFC 274 on May 7

UFC 274 has its second title fight booked, as Charles Oliveira will defend the lightweight crown against Justin Gaethje on May 7.

UFC president Dana White confirmed the matchup to ESPN on Wednesday. Oliviera vs. Gaethje joins a light heavyweight championship tilt between Glover Teixeira and Jiri Prochazka atop the card. UFC 274 was initially expected to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but the event is now rumored to move to the United States, though a venue is still unknown.

Oliveira, the promotion’s all-time submission leader, is coming off a 2021 campaign in which he defeated Michael Chandler via technical knockout to claim the vacant 155-pound belt at UFC 262 before submitting Dustin Poirier in his first title defense at UFC 269. “Do Bronx” is currently on a 10-bout winning streak within the Las Vegas-based promotion in which he has finished nine of his opponents inside the distance.

A former World Series of Fighting lightweight champion, Gaethje will vie for UFC gold for the second time when he faces Oliveira. He came up short in his first attempt, falling to Khabib Nurmagomedov via second-round submission at UFC 254. “The Highlight” rebounded in his last outing, taking a three-round verdict over Chandler in Sherdog.com's “Fight of the Year” at UFC 268. Gaethje has won five of his last six UFC appearances overall.