Vinicius Oliveira cites arm injury for UFC Vegas 113 loss to Mario Bautista

The Brazilian fighter says he should have canceled the fight due to the injury.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Vinicius Oliveira has claimed that an arm injury hindered his performance in his submission loss to Mario Bautista at UFC Vegas 113. Oliveira revealed he had broken his arm prior to the fight but decided to move forward despite the injury, which prevented him from executing his game plan effectively. The Brazilian fighter admitted it was a "reckless" decision to compete with the injury, as he struggled to defend takedowns and throw punches due to the pain in his arm.

Why it matters

Oliveira's loss to Bautista was his first defeat in the UFC, and the injury revelation provides context for his underwhelming performance. The decision to compete while injured raises questions about fighter safety and the pressures they face to perform, even when not fully healthy.

The details

Oliveira said he "could have cancelled the fight" due to the arm injury, but was determined to compete. He explained that when he was taken down, he couldn't use his shield to get back up because "that was exactly where it hurt". Oliveira also struggled to throw punches, saying "even just the movement of punching air hurt a lot".

  • Oliveira suffered the arm injury prior to UFC Vegas 113, which took place on February 8, 2026.

The players

Vinicius Oliveira

A Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC's bantamweight division. Oliveira was coming off a win streak before suffering his first loss in the promotion at UFC Vegas 113.

Mario Bautista

An American mixed martial artist who defeated Oliveira via second-round submission (rear-naked choke) at UFC Vegas 113.

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What they’re saying

“I could have cancelled the fight. I broke my arm. There wasn't much I could do, but I decided to move forward. For a good while we trained with my arm in a cast. It was actually a bit reckless on our part. We kept it under wraps, but I was determined to fight regardless of the injury.”

— Vinicius Oliveira, UFC Fighter (AG.Fight)

“I got taken down and couldn't do the shield to get back up because that was exactly where it hurt. I tried, but it hurt too much. I said in between round that it was hurting. We went on through the pain, but it was really bad. I started throwing jabs, but even just the movement of punching air hurt a lot.”

— Vinicius Oliveira, UFC Fighter (MMAFighting)

What’s next

Oliveira will likely need to take time off to fully recover from the arm injury before booking his next UFC fight. The promotion may also review his decision to compete while injured to ensure fighter safety protocols are being followed.

The takeaway

Oliveira's decision to fight through a broken arm raises concerns about the pressures UFC fighters face to compete, even when injured. This case highlights the need for greater oversight and support to protect fighter health and safety, as competing with a serious injury can jeopardize a fighter's long-term wellbeing.