LAS VEGAS – Alex Oliveira knows his back is against the wall heading into UFC 272.
Oliveira (22-11-1 MMA, 11-9 UFC) welcomes Kevin Holland (21-7 MMA, 8-4 UFC) to the welterweight division on Saturday’s main card and he’ll be looking to snap a three-fight skid.
“I need to win this fight. It’s really important for my career, for my life,” Oliveira told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 272 media day. “Sometimes you lose. It’s part of the game. But this time I need to win.
“Certainly, I really need to win for my career, for my position in the company. But I always come to have fun. That’s the way I am. I can’t not do that.”
Cutting down to 170 pounds isn’t easy for “Cowboy,” but he hopes Holland has a seamless weight cut so the pair can put on a show for the fans.
“Coming down to welterweight, it’s a more dynamic division,” Oliveira said. “I’ve been here for a while. He’s coming down (from middleweight). I hope he feels good because I want to put on a great fight. We’ll see.
“The coach says we’re going to bang. Like I said, it’s a more dynamic division and I want to bang.”
UFC 272 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
