The “BMF” title is changing possession.
It’s now owned by Charles Oliveira.
Oliveira mauled Max Holloway in a victory by unanimous decision in their lightweight bout. All three judges scored it 50-45 for Oliveira, who wept when he was announced the winner. And with that dominating performance, Oliveira wrested away the UFC’s “BMF’’ title Saturday, March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
With the victory, Oliveira improved his record to 37-11 and improved his chances for a shot at the lightweight title. He entered the fight ranked No. 3 among contenders in the lightweight division.
Holloway, 34, ranks as the UFC’s all-time leader in significant strikes landed. But Oliveira, 36, prevailed in the five-round fight with total control. Oliveira was masterful with his grappling and punished Holloway with punches when he had him on the ground.
And he had him on the ground a lot.
It was a rematch of their fight in 2015, when Holloway won after Oliveira suffered a neck injury in the first round and could not continue.
Holloway, the former UFC featherweight champion, fell to 27-9.
He was asked about his game plan after the fight.
“You know, it’s stick and move,’’ Holloway said during the Paramount+ livestream. “But they came with a better game plan. You got to give it up for Oliveira. Helluva fighter. A true BMF.’’
What’s next for Holloway?
“I’m going to come back and whup somebody’s (butt) and be right in title contention again,’’ he said. “… I ain’t done yet. I’ll see Mr. Oliveira again. That’s for sure.’’
USA TODAY Sports provided updates, highlights and analysis from UFC 326:
Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira: Round-by-round analysis
Here’s a round-by-round breakdown of the lightweight bout for the ‘BMF’ title:
Round 1
Charles Oliveira lets loose with two nice leg kicks. Max Holloway scores with a right but suddenly is under attack by Oliveira, who scores a takedown when he slams Holloway to the mat. Oliveira is look to land elbows and inflict damage. Oliveira riding Holloway’s back and brings down Holloway. Oliveira has him wrapped up in what looks like a dangerous hold. Holloway holding on and avoiding serious damage. Holloway holding on as Oliveira goes for the kill. Holloway slips out of the hold. Holloway smiles and raises his eyebrows with amusement. The air horn sounds and Holloway smiles as he returns to his stool. Oliveira 10, Holloway 9
Round 2
Holloway lands a couple of shots and Oliveira races in for another takedown. Oliveira showing impressive strength. The crowd boos. Makes sense. Can someone stand them up, please? But give Oliveira his due. This dude can grapple. Oliveira dropping elbows on Holloway’s head. No more smiles from Holloway. Oliveira pounding Holloway with elbows. Holloway fighting hard. Against a boa constrictor. Oliveira has inflicted damage for sure. Holloway survives again, but it’s not looking good for him. Oliveira 20, Holloway 18
Round 3
It was more of the same in the third round. Oliveira controlled Holloway on the ground and punished him from multiple angles. Oliveira 30, Holloway 27
Round 4
Oliveira opens with his fists but soon enough wraps up Holloway against the fence. The crowd boos. Holloway can evade Oliveira’s takedowns, leaving him virtually helpless as time elapses in this five-round fight. Oliveira punishes Holloway with elbows to the head. Ugly. Now he’s striking Holloway with his heels. It’s brutal. Brutally skillful. The crowd boos. They want these guys on their feet. Is it time for the UFC to implement a mercy rule? Just kidding, folks. But this is brutal. Oliveira 40, Holloway, 36
Round 5
They hug before the round starts. Oliveira scores with punches, tries to take down Holloway and all of the sudden Holloway is on top. Holloway is on top? Yes! Holloway is on top. Holloway lands punches to the head but not with any power. Oliveira fighting to get up. Oliveira back on his feet and takes down Holloway. And so, with about 2½ minutes to go, we’re going to end where we started: Oliveira in control. They separate in time to exchange blows, but it was too late for a miracle. Oliveira 50, Holloway 45
Paramount+ feed cuts out during Holloway-Oliveira main event
With the main event of UFC 326 underway, Paramount+ suffered a knockout.
When its own feed apparently went down.
The fight between Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira was headed to the third round when the livestream went dark for about two minutes.
When the livestream resumed for most, it was about two minutes into the third round.
Paramount did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Caio Borralho def. Reinier de Ridder by unanimous decision
The fight ended and Borralho put on his signature “Fighting Nerds’’ glasses, black rimmed and with white tape down the center.
He looked like a champion.
There was no dispute from the judges, all three who scored the fight 30-27 for Borralho. He beat Reinier de Ridder by unanimous decision, landing hard shots and shaking off de Ridder’s crisp lefts and effective grappling in the welterweight bout.
“He’s so tall and awkward that I couldn’t get my punches right,’’ Borralho said. “No one’s going to stop us Fighting Nerds.”
Borralho, a 33-year-old from Brazil, improved to 18-2. De Ridder, a 35-year-old from the Netherlands, fell to 21-4.
Caio Borralho vs. Reinier de Ridder: Round-by-round analysis
Round-by-round analysis of their middleweight bout:
Round 1
Caio Borralho comes racing out and lets fly with a spinning back kick. It was blocked, but the message was sent: Borralho is here to fight. De Ridder tried a patented takedown and Borralho fought it off. Borralho knocks down de Ridder and … oh, no. Borralho gets hit in the crotch with a knee. He’s trying to recover, in a manner not fit for family fare. De Ridder lands some nice shots and Borralho fires back and lands a nice left. De Ridder lands a couple of shots and Borralho responds with power. De Ridder has Borralho wrapped up against the fence. Knees to the backside. They’re grappling as the round ends. Borralho 10, De Ridder 9
Round 2
Borralho opens with a whistling right that stuns de Ridder. But now de Ridder responds with weaker punches but ones that land. Borralho showing power but looks wary of de Ridder, who now has Borralho wrapped up on the fence. The crowd boos as de Ridder keeps Borralho pinned against the fence. Is now the wrong time to change some rules? Maybe so, the two men now trade punches. De Ridder looks surprisingly fresh, and Borralho spent. Borralho 19, De Ridder 19
Round 3
Borralho opens with a solid right, but de Ridder looks unfazed. He’s moving forward and knees Borralho in the midsection. Suddenly Borralho ends up on top of de Ridder but seems to be resting. As perhaps most of us would. But Borralho needs to take advantage of this situation. De Ridder throwing punches and fighting to get free. De Ridder’s up and the real fight resumes – punches fly. De Ridder generating nice output and it includes a sweet left. De Ridder hits the mat. Hard to know if it was a slip. Both on their feet for the final 30 seconds. Neither man has what it takes to finish the fight. De Ridder 29, Borralho 28
Raul Rosas Jr. def. Rob Font by unanimous decision
This one was not fan friendly.
Unless you’re a fan of fights dominated by grappling with few punches.
But give the 21-year-old Rosas credit: he controlled the 38-year-old Font and won the bantamweight fight by unanimous decision.
All three judges scored it 30-27 in his favor of Rosas, a Mexican-American who improved to 12-1.
“I’m not satisfied,’’ he said after the fight. “I wish I would have got the finish.’’
Font, who has fought the likes of Jose Aldo and Cory Sandhagen, fell to 22-10.
Rob Font vs. Raul Rosas Jr.: Round-by-round analysis
Round 1
Rob Font almost creeping his way into position to punch. Raul Rosas Jr. bouncing. Both letting fly with kicks and punches. No damage yet. Well, just like that, Font clubs Rosas with a right. And Rosas scores a takedown. Font tries to squirm free and Rosas takes him down again. Now he’s drilling him with knees to the glutes and wrestles him to the ground again. But Font survives unscathed. Rosas 10, Font 9
Round 2
A dizzying opening sequence: Rosas scores a takedown. Font pulls a nifty reverse. And Rosas scrambles on top again. Rosas more focused on pretzeling Font than punching him. IMHO, time to punch. Font can’t break free. Font gets up and back down he goes. Rosas is a grappling beast and in control. Rosas finally punching, but inflicts little damage. Rosas 20, Font 18
Round 3
Font is back to creeping, and he lands a right. Rosas fires back and stays on the move. Then he catches Font’s right leg and … yep, takes him down again. Font reaches his feet, but not for long. Up goes Font, down goes Font. Rosas in total control. Rosas 30, Font 27
Drew Dober def. Michael Johnson by TKO
Dober threw a textbook vicious left hook.
It found its mark – Johnson’s face.
Dober floored Johnson in the second round of their lightweight fight and followed up with another right before the referee could stop the fight.
Dober, a 37-year-old from Colorado, improved to 29-15 with his 16th KO.
Johnson, a 39-year-old from Florida, fell to 24-20. He had won three in a row after losing six of eight fights.
Drew Dober vs. Michael Johnson: Round-by-round analysis
A round-by-round breakdown of their lightweight bout:
Round 1
Drew Dober and Michael Johnson, both southpaws, circle. Boy, Dober noticeably stockier. The action heats up, with Dober unleashing kicks and Johnson firing punches. Dober lands a hard left. Johnson responds with a nasty left. Both men standing their ground. Johnson lands a series of shots with his left hand. Johnson 10, Dober 9
Round 2
Dober emerges with aggression. Johnson counters with a crisp right. Dober unleashes a couple of kicks that miss. Johnson relying on his fists, especially the left. But now Dober is throwing punches, too. Dober nails Johnson with a left! Down goes Johnson. Dober follows up with another left and the referee stops the fight at 1:53 of round 2! It’s Dober by TKO.
Gregory Rodrigues def. Brunno Ferreira by KO
All it took was one punch. One brutal punch.
Rodrigues drilled Ferreira in the face with a right hand and Ferreira crumpled to the mat.
The referee immediately stopped the fight at 1:47 of the first round.
With the victory, Rodrigues avenged a first-round KO loss to Ferreira suffered Jan. 21, 2023.
Rodrigues, a 34-year-old from Brazil, improved to 19-6 and won for the sixth time in his last seven fights.
Ferreira, a 33-year-old from Brazil, fell to 15-3.
Gregory Rodrigues vs. Brunno Ferreira: Round-by-round analysis
Round 1
Gregory Rodrigues is so big he looks like he belongs in another weight class than Brunno Ferreira. A minute passes, no strikes landed. Ferreira grazed Rodrigues with a right. Rodrigues drills Ferreira with a right hand to the face and down goes Ferreira! The referee promptly calls the fight.
UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira fight card results
Fight card according to ESPN.
Main Card:
- Charles Oliveira def. Max Holloway by unanimous decision, lightweight
- Caio Borralho def. Reinier de Ridder by unanimous decision, middleweight
- Raul Rosas Jr. def. Rob Font by unanimous decision, bantamweight
- Drew Dober def. Michael Johnson by TKO, lightweight
- Gregory Rodrigues def. Brunno Ferreira by KO, middleweight
Prelims:
Cody Garbrandt def. Xiao Long by unanimous decision, bantamweight
- Round 1: Xiao Long landed a nasty head kick. But Cody Garbrandt rallied with an to the head. Long responded with a knee to the head. Ouch.
- Round 2: An unintentional head butt by Garbrandt knocked Long to the mat with 13 seconds left in the round. But the referee saw it for what it was, and Long stayed active with his kicks throughout the round.
- Round 3: Long kicked Garbrandt with two low blows, and the second one led Garbrandt to fall to the mat, retch and threw up in a bucket. Long slapped himself in the face while Garbrandt recovered. The referee deducted a point from Long, and then Long kneed Garbrandt in the crotch! The referee deducted another point and threatened to disqualify Long if there was another low blow.. Long scored with a headkick, but Garbrandt and his crotch survived. All three judges scored the fight 28-27 for Garbrandt.
***
Donte Johnson def. Cody Brundage by split decision, middleweight
- Round 1: Cody Brundage scored a quick takedown and had Donte Johnson on the mat for more than three minutes. That’s probably where he wants to keep up. Back on his feet, Johnson started stalking and looked dangerous.
- Round 2: Brundage took his foot off the gas and Johnson attacked with his wrestling. Little came of it, and maybe the biggest moment was he got away with an eye poke.
- Round 3: Brundage emerged with more energy. Johnson matched it — and sustained it longer. The judges scored it 29-28, 28-29, 29-28 in favor of Johnson.
***
Alberto Montes def. Ricky Turcios by submission (2nd round), featherweight
- Round 1: Ricky Turcios was aggressive, but Alberto Montes landed the cleaner and biggers shots.
- Round 2: Turcios tried to run. No luck. Montes caught up to Turcios and ended by fight by Anaconda choke with 4:20 left in the round.
***
Nyamjargal Tumendemberel def. Cody Durden by unanimous decision, flyweight
- Round 1: Most of the round was spent on the mat, and Nyamjargal Tumendemberel got the best of it. He threatened to end the fight early by guillotine and landed sharp blows during active grappling.
- Round 2: More grappling, less interesting. Durden landed two nice shots as the round ended and Tumendemberel fired back after the air horn sounded. Round 3: Durden sticks with the grappling game plan and late in the round gains control on Tumendemberel’s back. But Tumendemberel shook free and ending any hope of an upset. The judges score it 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 in favo of Tumendemberel.
Early Prelims:
Sumudaerji def. Jesus Aguilar by unanimous decision, flyweight
- Round 1: Sumudaerji towered over Jesus Aguilar and did a reasonably good job of exploiting the height advantage. But Aguilar did not struggle to survive the round. Nor did he win it.
- Round 2: Waiting for Sumudaerji to dominate. And waiting, and waiting…
- Round 3: It ended with the two men trading shots, with blood streaming down Aguilar’s nose and the crowd cheering. A gutsy performance from Aguilar, and a winning effort from Sumudaerji. All three judges score it 30-27 in favor of Sumudaerji.
***
Diyar Nurgozhay def. Rafael Tobias by unanimous decision, light heavyweight
- Round 1: Rafael Tobias was given about two minutes to recover after taking an illegal punch to the crotch. But the bigger problem for him as the legal, left-handed shots Diyar Nurgozhay nailed him with throughout the round.
- Round 2: Tobias, bleeding from the nose, stunned Nurgozhay with three solid punches and followed up with a takedown. But Nurgozhay pulled the reversal and punished Tobias as the round came to an end.
- Round 3: Nurgozhay played it conservative in the final round and it turned out to be a wise move. The judges scored it 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 in favor of Nurgozhay.
***
Rodolfo Bellato def. Luke Fernandez by TKO (1st round), light heavyweight
- Round 1: Luke Fernandez was controlling the fight with his right hand when Rodolfo Bellato, bleeding from his nose and near his left eye, suddenly dropped Fernandez with a left hook. Bellato pounced and commenced with the ground-and-pound, and the referee stopped the fight at 2:42 of the first round.
***
- JeongYeong Lee vs. Gaston Bolanos, featherweight (canceled)
UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira predictions
Jake Skudder, Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online: ‘Holloway’s output accumulates punishment over the championship rounds, and Oliveira’s chin, tested by Makhachev and Poirier, likely eventually buckles under the volume.’ Prediction: Max Holloway wins by TKO, Round 4.
Alexander Volkanovski, UFC featherweight champion: ‘Max Holloway, you go 100 percent. Now he is going to get you tired, and he’s one guy who knows how to capitalize on someone being tired. If he sees you tired, he’s going to make you pay more and more and more, and he can definitely mentally and physically break you down.’’ Prediction: Holloway by finish, Round 3 or later.
Anatoly Pimentel, BetMGM: ‘My prediction is a submission victory for Oliveira over Holloway, since his grappling and jiu-jitsu skills are far superior, and it’s the best way to beat an elite striker like Holloway. Taking the fight on the ground against better strikers than him has been the weapon of choice for Oliveira.’ Prediction: Oliveira by submission.
UFC 326 odds: Holloway vs Oliveira full card
Fight card according to ESPN and odds according to BetMGM.
Main Card:
- Max Holloway (-220) vs. Charles Oliveira (+180), lightweight
- Caio Borralho (-235) vs. Reinier de Ridder (+190), middleweight
- Rob Font (+190) vs. Raul Rosas Jr. (-235), bantamweight
- Drew Dober (+120) vs. Michael Johnson (-100), lightweight
- Gregory Rodrigues (-180) vs. Brunno Ferreira (+145), middleweight
- Prelims
- Cody Garbrandt (+140) vs. Xiao Long (-170), bantamweight
- Donte Johnson (-900) vs. Cody Brundage (+600), middleweight
- Ricky Turcios (+155) vs. Alberto Montes (-190), featherweight
- Cody Durden (+140) vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (-170), flyweight
- Early Prelims:
- Sumudaerji (-235) vs. Jesus Aguilar (+190), flyweight
- Rafael Tobias (-185) vs. Diyar Nurgozhay (+150), light heavyweight
- JeongYeong Lee (-275) vs. Gaston Bolanos (+275), featherweight (canceled)
- Luke Fernandez (-235) vs. Rodolfo Bellato (+190), light heavyweight
Ring walk time for Holloway vs Oliveira main event
The main card starts at 9 p.m. ET. Ring walks for Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira are estimated to take place at about 11 p.m. ET.
Where is UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira?
UFC 326: Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira will be held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
UFC 326 preliminary and main card start times
Here are your start times.
- Early Prelims: 5 p.m. ET (Paramount+)
- Prelims: 7 p.m. ET (Paramount+)
- Main card: 9 p.m. ET (Paramount+)
UFC 326 live stream
The Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira continues a new era for the UFC. All fights, from early prelims to the main card, will be available on Paramount+.
UFC 326 price
Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira will fight for a lightweight rematch in the main event of UFC’s bout on Paramount+. Say goodbye to the pay-per-view fees, but don’t forget the Paramount+ subscription fee of $8.99 that gets you access to UFC fights.
Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira: Tale of the tape
UFC moves to Paramount+ ending PPV era
UFC moves on from its PPV model with ESPN and ESPN+. With its seven-year, $7.7 billion deal with Paramount, the promise is upwards of 40 UFC events a year. It all began in 2026 with UFC 324 on Jan. 24, which was broadcast on Paramount+. UFC 326 will have select coverage on CBS.
