Alex Oliveira parts ways with TFT, to train full-time at hometown team ATS
Nine days after scoring the biggest win of his MMA career, Alex Oliveira has decided to part ways with one of the teams he has trained with for years, Tata Fight Team, and prepare for his future fights only in his hometown gym ATS, Oliveira told MMA Fighting.
“Cowboy”, who submitted Carlos Condit in the co-main event of UFC no FOX 29 in Glendale on April 14, trains with coach Andre Tadeu at ATS in Tres Rios, but would drive approximately 100 miles to train with coaches Tata Duarte and Philip Lima at TFT in Rio de Janeiro as well.
Oliveira’s last two full camps, for his fights with Ryan LaFlare and Yancy Medeiros, were done entirely at ATS, but TFT coaches were in Oliveira's corner for those fights. "Cowboy" took the Condit fight on two weeks’ notice, and Lima was in his corner alongside Tadeu.
“I left TFT, I’m only with ATS now, where I always trained and will always train,” Oliveira said. “My focus and training for my last fights was here at home. I want to thank everyone at TFT, no hard feelings, and wish everyone there good luck.”
TFT leader Tata Duarte also confirmed the split.
“Unfortunately, we were having disagreements with Andre, and now (Tadeu) doing [Oliveira’s training],” Duarte told MMA Fighting. “I wish them the best. Life goes on.”
The Brazilian has only lost one of five fights since moving up full time to welterweight in 2016, finishing Tim Means, LaFlare and Condit. Oliveira’s submission over “The Natural Born Killer” put him back in the winning column following a war with Medeiros last December, when he lost via third-round TKO.