UFC 326: Max Holloway vs Charles Oliveira Preview & Prediction
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Future Hall of Famers clash with the "BMF" strap and a potential title shot on the line, as Max Holloway faces Charles Oliveira in a rematch over a decade in the making.
Max Holloway vs Charles Oliveira facts
What time are Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira expected to walk out?
Where is UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2? T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 326
What TV channel is UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2 on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Not televised
Where can I stream UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2 main card
Max Holloway vs Charles Oliveira (Lightweight)
Caio Borralho vs Reinier de Ridder (Middleweight)
Rob Font vs Raul Rosas Jr. (Bantamweight)
Drew Dober vs Michael Johnson (Lightweight)
Gregory Rodrigues vs Brunno Ferreira (Middleweight)
UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2 prelims
Cody Garbrandt vs Xiao Long (Bantamweight)
Donte Johnson vs Cody Brundage (Middleweight)
Ricky Turcios vs Alberto Montes (Featherweight)
Cody Durden vs Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (Flyweight)
Su Mudaerji vs Jesus Santos Aguilar (Flyweight)
Rafael Tobias vs Diyar Nurgozhay (Light Heavyweight)
Lee Jeong-yeong vs Gaston Bolanos (Featherweight)
Luke Fernandez vs Rodolfo Bellato (Light Heavyweight)
Max Holloway: Can "Blessed" secure the second defense of his "BMF" title and earn a shot at redemption against Ilia Topuria?
Were it not for a certain gentleman named Alexander Volkanovski, it would be hard to deny Max Holloway (27-8) as the greatest featherweight of all time. Outside of three losses to “The Great,” “Blessed” consistently proved to be a step ahead of every fighter at 145 pounds even after coughing up the belt following four successful defenses of his own, with his elite volume striking turning back the likes of Arnold Allen, Yair Rodriguez, and Calvin Kattar. Best known for his iconic last-second KO over Justin Gaethje that earned him the “BMF” strap, Holloway may have suffered the first knockout loss of his career after moving back down to challenge Ilia Topuria, but has since rebounded after returning to 155 pounds to defend his “BMF” status against Dustin Poirier.
Charles Oliveira: "Do Bronx" looks to add the "BMF" strap to his trophy cabinet as his legendary career enters its twilight
Arguably the most universally beloved fighter on the entire UFC roster, former lightweight kingpin, Charles Oliveira (36-11, 1 NC) successfully rebounded from a harrowing KO defeat at the hands of Ilia Topuria with a vintage submission victory over Mateusz Gamrot in front of his home crowd in Brazil last time out. Credited with the most finishes and submissions in UFC history, Oliveira is renowned as one of the most dangerous grapplers in MMA history; a jiu jitsu wizard who also happens to have a ferocious Muay Thai striking base in his back pocket. Widely regarded as one of the best lightweights of all time courtesy of wins over Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, and Tony Ferguson to name, “Do Bronx” looks to add to his legend by securing the “BMF” title.
Max Holloway vs Charles Oliveira prediction
A rematch more than a decade in the making, the pair’s initial 2015 pairing at featherweight ended in bizarre fashion after Oliveira suffered a neck injury in the early goings to lose by TKO. Both fighters have improved immeasurably since then, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that the same man is going to end up with his hand raised.
Oliveira may have ultimately walked away with victories against Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje, but not without enduring some legitimately hairy moments on the feet, getting dropped on multiple occasions against both men before eventually roaring back to score a submission.
Holloway has wins over both “The Diamond” and “The Highlight” where he largely had his way with them in the striking; a concerning omen for the man known as “Do Bronx.” Moreover, “Blessed” also has elite takedown defense. Fighters have been able to ground him on occasion, but nobody has ever succeeded in completely manhandling the Hawaiian in the grappling department outside of a submission loss to Poirier in the infancy of his career.
That’s not to say that Oliveira unequivocally can’t win a striking match if he’s unable to work his magic on the ground, but it seems unlikely given that Holloway is more accurate, more defensively sound, and lands at a much higher clip than “Do Bronx.” Oliveira’s high guard will also allow “Blessed” to work the body effectively, draining the Brazilian’s gas tank and creating openings to land damage up top.
Whether it be by a hard fought decision or a later rounds TKO, the pick is for Holloway to get this one done once again.
Prediction: Max Holloway to win
