UFC 326 Fight Week Begins

This rematch is over a decade in the making, following a bizarre and anticlimactic first encounter in August 2015. That fight ended just 99 seconds into the first round when Charles Oliveira suffered a neck and shoulder injury, resulting in a TKO victory for Max Holloway. The BMF title on the line is a unique, symbolic belt created in 2019 after Nate Diaz declared himself the "Baddest Motherf***er" and challenged Jorge Masvidal. Holloway is only the third fighter to hold the title, having won it from Justin Gaethje with a knockout in the final second of their bout at UFC 300. Holloway, a former featherweight champion, became the first person to successfully defend the BMF belt when he defeated Dustin Poirier. This fight marks his permanent move to the lightweight division as he continues to build his legacy outside of the 145-pound class he once dominated. Oliveira, a former UFC Lightweight Champion, has been on a rollercoaster path to this rematch. Since losing his title to Islam Makhachev, he has secured wins over top contenders like Beneil Dariush and Michael Chandler but also suffered a split decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300. The interest from bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili stems from the division's title picture being temporarily stalled. With champion Petr Yan injured, top contenders are looking for high-profile fights, and the BMF title represents a major attraction. Teenage phenom Raul Rosas Jr. will get his wish to face top-tier competition at UFC 326. His opponent is veteran Rob Font, who enters the fight ranked just outside the top 15 in the bantamweight division, providing the exact test Rosas Jr. has been asking for.