Former UFC lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira is a unique individual. The Brazilian man of faith had to overcome hardship at every turn on his rise to winning the UFC world title, leaning on a higher presence that guides him.

In this installment of the “UFC Chronicles” series on UFC Fight Pass, I was able to be creative with storytelling, using a variety of themes to write the chapters of Oliveira’s life. I also had to find ways to tell stories of adversity where no footage existed, depicting scenes with various elements we filmed in the hospitals and churches surrounding Sao Paulo. Even a trip to New York for some horse racing had its place in the narrative structure.