Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira don’t need to talk trash to build anticipation for their rematch with the “BMF” title going up for grabs in the UFC 326 main event.
At the pre-fight press conference on Thursday, the future UFC Hall of Famers were all about business before, during and after they faced off for the first time during fight week. There was no fake bravado but instead Holloway and Oliveira just stared each other down for a few moments with UFC CEO Dana White standing between them.
When
they finally broke apart, Holloway and Oliveira couldn’t help but each crack a smile because there are no words needed when it comes to the expectations for this five-round fight.
With a ridiculous 34 post-fight bonuses between them, there’s little doubt that Holloway and Oliveira are expected to put on a main event for the ages, especially after their first encounter ended in such disappointing fashion.
On that night 11 years ago, the action barely got started before Oliveira suffered some kind of freak injury to his neck that stopped the fight in the opening round. Holloway got the victory but it certainly wasn’t the satisfying way he hoped to end Oliveira’s night.
Now they’ll run it back again with Holloway seeking to not only defend his “BMF” title for a second time but potentially put himself in position to battle for the UFC lightweight title sometime in the near future. Oliveira obviously wants the same thing and he took a great step forward after dominating and finishing Mateusz Gamrot in his most recent outing.
A win over Holloway at UFC 326 would put him that much closer to another shot at gold.
UFC 326 goes down on Saturday night from the T-Mobile Arena with the card broadcast on Paramount+ along with a special two-hour window from 8 p.m. ET to 10 p.m. ET with the show being simulcast on CBS for the first time ever.
