Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira delivered a thrilling rematch at UFC 326, with Holloway securing a split decision victory over Oliveira to retain the BMF title at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night. The event, which took place at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount+, featured a stacked card with multiple high-profile bouts, including the co-main event between middleweight contenders Caio Borralho and Reinier de Ridder.

BMF Title Rematch: Holloway vs. Oliveira

The main event saw Holloway (27-8) face Oliveira (36-11, 1 NC) in a five-round rematch of their 2015 bout, which Holloway won via injury stoppage before either had reached championship status. This time, the stakes were higher, with Holloway defending the BMF title he claimed in 2024 with a stunning knockout of Justin Gaethje.

Oliveira, a former UFC lightweight champion and the promotion’s all-time leader in stoppage victories, had previously defeated Holloway in 2015. However, the rematch proved to be a more evenly contested affair, with both fighters trading blows and showing their experience. The fight ended with Holloway winning by split decision, with scores of 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47 in his favor.

Co-main Event: Borralho vs. De Ridder

The co-main event featured a middleweight showdown between Caio Borralho (15-3) and Reinier de Ridder (16-2). Borralho, known for his explosive striking, was expected to take control of the fight early on. However, de Ridder, a former title challenger, proved resilient and showed his grappling skills. The bout ended in a draw, with the judges scoring it 48-47, 48-47, and 48-47 in favor of de Ridder, according to the official UFC results.

Borralho’s performance, while not decisive, showcased his ability to compete with top-tier middleweights, while de Ridder’s display of well-rounded skills confirmed his status as a top contender in the division.

Other Main Card Highlights

The bantamweight division saw Rob Font (18-5) face Raul Rosas Jr. (14-2). Font, a former title challenger, used his experience to outwork Rosas, winning via unanimous decision with scores of 30-27, 30-27, and 30-27. The lightweight matchup between Drew Dober (18-7) and Michael Johnson (13-3) was a back-and-forth affair, with Dober ultimately securing a split decision victory.

In the middleweight division, Gregory Rodrigues (11-2) defeated Brunno Ferreira (11-3) via unanimous decision, with scores of 30-27, 30-27, and 30-27 in favor of Rodrigues. The preliminary card featured several notable performances, including Cody Garbrandt’s unanimous decision victory over Xiao Long and Alberto Montes’ submission win over Ricky Turcios in the second round.

The early prelims saw Su Mudaerji (11-2) and Diyar Nurgozhay (11-2) win their respective fights via unanimous decisions, while Rodolfo Bellato (8-3) stopped Luke Fernandez (5-2) via TKO in the first round.

The UFC 326 event, which started at 5:30 p.m. ET on Paramount+, offered fans a thorough card with multiple high-profile bouts. The event was free for all Paramount+ subscribers, making it accessible to a broader audience. The success of the event could influence future scheduling, with potential follow-up events featuring similar matchups and high-stakes title bouts.

Analysts have noted that the rematch between Holloway and Oliveira has the potential to become a defining moment in both fighters’ careers, especially given the significance of the BMF title. The split decision victory for Holloway adds to his legacy as one of the greatest fighters in the lightweight division, while Oliveira’s performance highlights his resilience and ability to compete at the highest level despite recent setbacks.

With both fighters expected to remain active in the lightweight division, fans are eagerly anticipating potential future matchups. The UFC has also confirmed that the next major event, UFC 327, is scheduled for November 18, 2023, at the same venue, with more high-profile bouts on the horizon.