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Police are expecting to speak to UFC welterweight Alex Oliveira and his lawyer Monday in regard to an alleged assault of his ex-wife in Tres Rios, Rio de Janeiro, on Saturday morning.
Precinct chief Andre Lourenco on Sunday told MMA Junkie of the expected meeting after multiple Brazilian outlets, following an initial story by G1, reported news of the alleged assault.
The alleged incident took place Saturday morning, Lourenco confirmed in an account similar to the one he had given UOL. According to the ex-wife’s statement, Oliveira seemingly was intoxicated when he showed up to meet her and their 5-month-old baby, and left with the baby on his motorcycle. The fighter also allegedly assaulted her with punches and pulled her by the hair.
As soon as the police were called, Lourenco said, officers began attempts to locate them Oliveira and the child. They were able to find the child – a daughter, not a son, Lourenco said contrary to previous reports – with one of Oliveira’s sisters. But Oliveira wasn’t there.
“The child was delivered to the mother and we started our diligence in attempts to find him,” Lourenco said. “He wasn’t located. Then, (Sunday), we tried contact with his coach and couldn’t. Then, his family. Then his lawyer got in touch with us and said he’s going to present himself tomorrow. He didn’t say where he was. He could be in Rio de Janeiro, he could be in many places. The fact is that it doesn’t justify a manhunt of him, given the nature of the fact.”
As “Cowboy” Oliveira’s team said in a statement sent out Sunday, in which they also spoke of Oliveira’s plans to appear at the station with his lawyer, no warrant has been issued for his arrest.
The full statement read:
“The story being circulated in the media about the incident involving UFC athlete Alex Oliveira does not reflect the reality of the facts. The news that there is an arrest warrant issued for him is false. He will, along with with his lawyer, meet with the precinct chief in charge to give his side of what happened in a timely manner.”
Lourenco did say, however, that he will request an arrest in case Oliveira doesn’t show up. The police chief also said he’s already set up an inquiry into the accusations and Oliveira potentially faces charges that include bodily injury within the Maria da Penha law and exposing the life and health of others to danger. The Maria da Penha law was created in Brazil to protect victims of domestic violence,
The ex-wife has undergone a physical forensic exam, Lourenco said, but the report hasn’t been made available to him yet.
That wasn’t the only alleged incident involving Oliveira over the weekend. According to the early reports, Oliveira also got into an altercation with a security guard, who also said the fighter showed signs of being intoxicated, during a party earlier in the night. Both cases are being investigated in the same precinct.
The Brazilian “Cowboy” was last seen in the octagon on April 27, at UFC on ESPN+ 8. Oliveira (19-7-1 MMA, 9-5 UFC) lost a unanimous decision to Mike Perry, which added to a two-fight skid after a submission loss to Gunnar Nelson at UFC 231 last December. Oliveira was on a two-fight winning streak before then.
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