Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira da Silva, an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Champion and South American harness racing driver, will make his official United States pari-mutuel driving debut on Tuesday, May 5 in race 13 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
While this may be his first start in the U.S. where patrons get to wager on the popular pugilist, this is certainly not the first time he has driven in a major harness racing event.
“Today I fulfilled another big dream of mine, to win in such a major event like the National Grand Prix,” which the fighter and part-time horseman posted on his social media feed (translated from Portuguese) after capturing his most prestigious harness race to date, in his neighbouring country of Argentina in October.
“Thank you to everyone who believes in my dreams. The champion has a name: Gora Mermerby Escorpion,” giving kudos to the horse that made Oliveira’s harness racing dreams come true at the Hipódromo de Lincoln outside Buenos Aires.
In his native Brazil, Oliveira has 19 wins in 32 official starts according to Guiseppe Constantino, president of Brazil’s trotting registry. The United States Trotting Association has recognized his international drives and granted him a reciprocal license based upon his South American experience and level of participation.
Now 36, and a holder of many belts and honours in his fighting career, he is currently ranked third in his lightweight division, and is now the incumbent of the UFC’s “BMF” symbolic title, which he has held for 58 days since UFC 326. Overall, he is listed as No. 11 in the men’s pound-for-pound rankings in the sport.
And while most of the world knows of his success in the octagon, Oliveira has said on several occasions that horses and harness racing are “his true passion.”
"Do Bronx" once told Brazilian journalist Guilherme Cruz that, “I don’t get nervous before a fight. I get a bit anxious when it’s time and whatnot, but for a race, man, I can’t sleep. I stayed up all night, walking around the house thinking [about the race] and asking God to bless us.”
Born into poverty in Guarujá, Brazil, if he and his parents had taken the advice of doctors the former UFC Lightweight champion may never had set foot into a mixed martial arts octagon. At age seven, he was diagnosed with a heart murmur and rheumatic fever, leading physicians to warn the family against playing sports. Five years later, he was introduced to native jiu-jitsu and became the São Paula champion within the subsequent eight weeks.
Oliveira began his amateur fighting career in Brazil in 2007 and quickly rose to professional prominence the following year. He was signed for the UFC in 2010 and has since amassed a record of 37 wins, including 10 by knockout and 22 by submission. He earned his first UFC Lightweight Championship title in 2021.
Quick to trade his fighting shorts for gloves and whip, Oliveira was introduced to harness racing by his nutritionist, corner man and long-time friend Josias “Gio” Santos, also a native of Brazil. The pair have worked together on both fronts for years, with Oliveira teaching Santos about mixed martial arts, and Santos helping to immerse the horse-loving “Do Bronx” into harness racing.
Ironically, the pair will line up alongside one another behind the starting car for Pocono’s 13th race on Tuesday. When asked about his pari-mutuel debut, his local friend and host Simon Allard said that Oliveira is excited about the race and provided this translation, “I hope that I have the opportunity to win. I am looking forward to the race and hope that I get into position to come out on top.”
Oliveira has post five with Kashed Up A, a nine-year-old winner of $364,086 and a mark of 1:51.1f. Trained by Dean Eckley for owner William Hartt of Carmel, Maine, it will be the gelding’s 66th domestic start.
The race at Pocono is slated for approximately 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, after which it is expected that “Do Bronx” will interact with fans on the apron.
After his trip to Pocono Downs, Oliveira will be participating in a team event at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Friday, May 8, and will conclude his Northeast harness track tour with a drive at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Mother’s Day Sunday, May 10.
(PHHA/Pocono)