Charles Oliveira apologizes to Nik Lentz, still seeks rematch

Charles Oliveira came in overweight at the UFC Fight Night 50 weigh-ins on Thursday, and eventually canceled his featherweight bout with Nik Lentz due to a viral infection.

The Brazilian featherweight, who weighed in at 150 pounds and had to forfeit 20 percent of his purse to Lentz, spoke to MMAFighting.com on Friday night and explained who decided to cancel the fight.

"My team made the call. I’m feeling bad," Oliveira said. "I was the one who asked for this fight, so I tried my best to fight, but unfortunately I couldn’t. My immunity was low, I gave everything I had. I tried to hit pads on Friday morning, but I was dizzy and threw up, so we decide that I couldn’t fight."

Oliveira called Lentz out after back-to-back submission wins over Andy Ogle and Hatsu Hioki, but couldn’t rematch the American Top Team fighter in Ledyard, Conn. He will accept any fight UFC offers him next, but wants his rematch with "The Carnie."

"I apologize to Lentz because I asked for this fight and couldn’t fight, but the world turns and we will fight again one day. I have nothing against him, but we have unfinished things between us," said Oliveira, who had his submission win over Lentz overturned to a no-contest in 2011 due to an illegal knee.

"I have to go back home and do some exams to find out what’s going on. If the UFC schedules my next fight against Lentz, great, but I will be ready to fight anyone they want. I will do my best all the time. I know a lot of people will talk crap at me, but they can say whatever they want. I will do my job."

UFC president Dana White paid Lentz his both win and show money after Oliveira pulled out from the UFC Fight Night 50 card, but "do Bronx" went back home with no money at all.

"I’m an employee. If Dana thinks that’s the best for Nik and me, I can’t complain," he said. "It’s part of the job. I tried my best. I didn’t come here for the money or the bonus. I came here to fight, but I couldn’t. If Dana thinks that’s the best, I can’t say anything."