Former champions Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira square off in a lightweight bout for the symbolic BMF title as the headline event at UFC 326: Holloway vs. Oliveira 2. Since their first matchup more than a decade ago, the two have become iconic figures and champions in the UFC with more than 60 professional wins between them.
Both fighters had recent setbacks to current UFC lightweight champion IliaTopuria but they rebounded with victories in their most recent fights. The two met in 2015 with Holloway getting a first round TKO after Oliveira sustained a neck injury. Opening UFC betting odds have Holloway as a -235 favorite.
UFC 326: Holloway vs. Oliveira 2 Preview
A total of 13 fights are on the UFC 326 ticket with the headline bout between current BMF titleholder and former featherweight champ Max Holloway and former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. The action takes place on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The entire fight card will be streamed on Paramount+.
UFC 326: Holloway vs. Oliveira 2 Predictions
- A lot has changed for both fighters since they first met in August 2015. And we didn’t get a chance to see two of the best fighters of their generation in full attack mode since that bout was stopped early due to Oliveira’s injury.
- The title of BMF isn’t just handed out in the UFC. It has to be earned between competitors who have “a willingness to go out on one's shield, be equipped with elite skill sets who enjoy, or even prefer, getting into an old-fashioned brawl, and rarely if ever play it safe.”
- Because of what the symbolic BMF title stands for, you can expect a level of aggression from Holloway and Oliveira. Holloway became the first fighter to defend the BMF title beating Dustin Poirier via unanimous decision in his most recent fight last July in his return to lightweight. He was KO’d by Topuria in his previous bout for the featherweight strap.
- Holloway claimed the BMF title with a late KO of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in the Performance of the Night in the Fight of the Night. His last second KO was considered to be among the greatest and most shocking in UFC history.
- Oliveira rebounded from his knockout loss to Topuria at UFC 317, which was his third setback in 5 fights, to score an impressive second round submission of Mateusz Gamrot last October. It extended his UFC record streak of most finishes to 21 and submissions to 17.
- The former lightweight champion, Oliveira was stripped of his belt in a controversial decision by the UFC when he missed weight in a scheduled title fight with Gaethje at UFC 274. Oliveira went on to win the fight by a rear-naked choke in the first round.
UFC 326: Holloway vs. Oliveira 2 Betting Tips
- Early UFC betting odds have Holloway as the favorite at -235 with Oliveira listed at +187. Holloway spent time as a featherweight winning the title winning and then losing the title. He announced a permanent return to lightweight last year.
- All 5 fights on the main card have fairly close odds with Caio Borralho (-285) the biggest favorite in his middleweight clash with fellow ranked opponent Reinier de Ridder (+223).
- Most fights on the card boast are within the same odds range, however one bout stands out because of the numbers. Undefeated in 7 fights and coming off a submission win in his UFC debut, Donte Johnson is the biggest favorite on the board at -650 in his middleweight scrap with Cody Brundage +445
UFC 326: Holloway vs. Oliveira 2 Head to Head and Key Stats
(4) Max Holloway vs. (3) Charles Oliveira – Lightweight Fight
- There is more than just the BMF title on the line for these ranked contenders. Both are looking for another shot at the title and will have to go through each other to get it. The first bout was anticlimactic with Holloway scoring a TKO 99 seconds into the fight when Oliveira sustained an injury defending a takedown.
- Only 6 of Oliveira’s 48 career fights have gone to the judges. His overall record is 36-11-1 with 10 KOs and 22 submissions. He holds the UFC record for most wins by stoppage and submissions.
- Holloway owns a career record of 27-8 with 12 KOs and 2 submissions. He became the youngest fighter to win 10 UFC bouts with his TKO of Oliveira in 2105. His record inside the Octagon is 23-8.
