Vinicius de Oliveira living the 'dream' after winning UAE Warriors bantamweight title

The 25-year-old Brazilian claimed a second round TKO win over Xavier Alaoui to become the new champion on Saturday

Vinicius de Oliveira, the new UAE Warriors bantamweight champion, celebrates after defeating Xavier Alaoui at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena. Courtesy Palms Sports

Vinicius de Oliveira celebrates becoming the new UAE Warriors bantamweight champion. Courtesy Palms Sports

Vinicius de Oliveira, in green shorts, lands a punch on Xavier Alaoui during their UAE Warriors bantamweight title fight. Courtesy Palms Sports

Vinicius de Oliveira, left, lands a shot on Xavier Alaoui during their UAE Warriors bantamweight title fight. Courtesy Palms Sports

Tarun Grigoryan lifts Islam Makhamadjanov in their featherweight contest at UAE Warriors 18. Courtesy Palms Sport

Austin Arnett celebrates after defeating Daniel Vega at UAE Warriors-18 following their catchweight 68 fight. Courtesy Palms Sports

Joan Arastey and Omran Chaaban exchange kicks in their UAE Warriors-18 middleweight fight. Courtesy Palms Sports

Corinne Laframboise has Malin Hermansson in a submissive hold in their UAE Warriors 18 female catchweight 58kg fight. Courtesy Palms Sports

Juares Dea lands a kick on Jalal Al Daaja but lost the fight in a split decision in the UAE Warriors 18 fight. Courtesy Palms Sports

Vinicius de Oliveira is the new UAE Warriors bantamweight champion after the Brazilian claimed a second round TKO win over Moroccan Xavier Alaoui in the 18th edition of the event at Zayed Sports City’s Jiu-Jitsu Arena on Saturday.

Oliveira, 25, took his record in the UAE Warriors to three from three and his overall MMA record to 16-2 (win/loss).

“We as mixed martial art fighters’ dream of winning titles and I have realised that dream tonight,” Oliveira said after stopping his opponent with a flurry of punches and a head kick.

“The fight was so tough as in any other top level MMA card. You never know what to expect in a cage but I wanted to attack from the outset and it panned out very well for me on the night.

“My next objective is to come here and defend this title. Winning a title is a lifetime opportunity and I want to keep this title and the momentum going for as long as possible.”

American Sean Soriano and Russian Denis Tiuliulin both made short work of their opponents in the two main supporting contests.

Soriano was in complete control to knock out Noad Lahat of Israel in the first round, while Tiuliulin produced a similarly emphatic performance to finish off Brazilian Juscelino Ferreira, also in the opening round.

Corinne Laframboise redeemed her last UAE Warriors loss with a superb display to force a second round submission on Swede Malin Hermansson in the female flyweight division.

Italian Mariagiovanna Vai made a perfect start to her MMA career with a first round submission of Israel's Daniella Shutov in the first of the two female fights.

The bantamweight fight between Jordanian Jalal Al Daaja and Jaures Dea of Cameroon provided the most exciting contest in the 13-fight card.

Al Daaja clinched a split decision win over Dea, who was returning from his defeat to Alaoui in the last UAE Warriors 14 in November.