The Ultimate Fighting Championship is launching its 2026 schedule with a showdown that promises pure violence. Max Holloway is officially set to defend his “BMF” title against former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. This highly anticipated rematch will serve as the main event for UFC 326.
Officials confirmed the booking on Friday during a special press conference. The event is scheduled for March 7 and will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This card carries extra significance as it marks the beginning of the promotions new broadcast partnership with Paramount.
🚨 MAX HOLLOWAY AND CHARLES OLIVEIRA FACE OFF
Charles Oliveira said two days ago that this fight was NOT signed, the UFC got this done in the last 48 hours 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/4BIuwyDHqx
— ACD MMA (@acdmma_) December 6, 2025
A Rematch Over a Decade in the Making
Hardcore fans will remember that this is not the first time these two fan favorites have shared the cage. Holloway and Oliveira previously squared off in 2015 while both were climbing the ranks of the featherweight division. However, that first encounter provided little closure for the competitors or the fans.
The fight ended in less than two minutes after Oliveira suffered a freak esophagus injury during an early exchange. The injury halted the bout immediately, resulting in a TKO victory for the Hawaiian before the fight ever truly found its rhythm. Now, more than ten years later, they run it back under very different circumstances.
Battle for the BMF Crown
Both men have evolved into legitimate legends of the sport. They now sit at the top of the lightweight rankings and will compete for the honor of being known as the “baddest motherf*cker” in the entire organization.
Holloway originally captured the ceremonial belt with an iconic, buzzer beating knockout against Justin Gaethje at the historic UFC 300 event. He followed up that performance by defending the “BMF” strap against Dustin Poirier in what served as the final fight of Poiriers illustrious career.
This clash with Oliveira marks the second title defense for Holloway as he looks to cement his legacy as the most violent man on the roster.
Chasing the Undisputed King
While the BMF title is on the line, undisputed gold remains the ultimate prize. Both Holloway and Oliveira are looking to secure a rematch with the reigning UFC lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria.
Topuria holds victories over both men. He defeated Holloway at featherweight and bested Oliveira at lightweight in previous contests. A decisive victory at UFC 326 could catapult the winner right back into contention for another shot at Topuria later this year.
