Oliveira's controversial elbows finish Fili in featherweight debut at UFC Vegas 119

Vinicius Oliveira announced himself at featherweight with a second-round knockout of Andre Fili at UFC Vegas 119 on Saturday, though the finish was immediately shadowed by controversy after he appeared to land several elbows to the back of Fili’s head before referee Herb Dean waved it off at 4:56.

Once Fili returned to his feet, a cut on the back of his head was visible and treated by ringside physicians — physical evidence that at least some of Oliveira’s elbows had landed in an illegal zone. Dean, however, had already called the fight, and the result stood.

The stoppage drew added scrutiny given that Dean was already under criticism following his handling of the Ciryl Gane vs. Alex Pereira bout at the UFC White House card, where illegal shots were also alleged to have contributed to the finish.

Controversy aside, the fight itself was a genuine slugfest. Oliveira started the sharper of the two, but Fili checked a leg kick that appeared to hurt the Brazilian’s foot, and the veteran Team Alpha Male fighter responded with a pair of heavy body kicks that had Oliveira retreating to the cage in visible pain.

Fili could not press the advantage, and Oliveira survived into the second round. The pair continued to trade until Oliveira clipped Fili with a hard punch that sent him stumbling backwards. Oliveira followed with a barrage of punches and knees before switching to the standing elbows that dropped Fili and ended the contest.

For Oliveira, the move up from bantamweight appears to have been the right call. “I’m feeling better,” he said afterwards. “I never get to fight like that. All my fights in the UFC, I felt tired, and weak … now I can show the world how good I am.”