Oliveira’s Grappling Settled the Long-Awaited Holloway Rematch
Charles Oliveira defeated Max Holloway by unanimous decision at UFC 326 on March 7, 2026. The BMF-title main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas ended with three 50–45 scorecards, reversing the result of their first meeting more than a decade earlier.
A public proposal eventually became a booked fight
The possibility of a BMF rematch had circulated in January 2025, when Oliveira expressed interest and Holloway responded positively. The eventual contest arrived the following year rather than during the initial summer window being discussed.
Their first encounter took place in Saskatoon on August 23, 2015. Holloway won by technical knockout at 1:39 of the opening round after Oliveira suffered an injury and could not continue.
The return contest unfolded through sustained control
Oliveira repeatedly took Holloway down and maintained favorable positions. Holloway defended against the submission threats, but that defense did not allow him to establish enough offense to change the direction of the contest.
The Brazilian combined positional advances with strikes across the five rounds. Every judge awarded him all five, producing a clear decision after their much shorter first meeting.
The BMF belt changed hands
The victory made Oliveira the fourth BMF titleholder. It added the symbolic belt to a career that had already included the undisputed UFC lightweight championship.
For Holloway, the result ended his possession of the BMF title. The rematch supplied a complete five-round competitive outcome, with Oliveira’s grappling determining the result long after the injury-shortened opening chapter of their rivalry.
Sources
- Sherdog: January 2025 proposal and Holloway’s response
- UFC: August 2015 first meeting and official stoppage
- UFC: takedowns, control and BMF title victory
- UFC: rematch scores, date and venue
Article Tags
Charles Oliveira, UFC, MMA
