It’s
been more than a decade since Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira
first squared off. | Josh Schaefer/Sherdog.com
Since their first fight in 2015, Charles
Oliveira and Max
Holloway have followed parallel paths in different
divisions.
While Holloway continued his winning streak at featherweight,
defeating Jose Aldo by
technical knockout at UFC 212 to take the belt from the fighter
considered to be the GOAT of the division, Charles migrated to
Chute Boxe, moved up to lightweight, restarted his career and after
a sequence of eight victories, won the division’s belt by knocking
out Michael
Chandler at UFC 262 in 2021.
In 2026, the two legends will face each other again in the
UFC 326 headliner, disputing the BMF belt that the Hawaiian has
held since 2024 after beating Justin
Gaethje and Dusin Poirier. Holloway has been pointed out as a
slight favorite in the odds, but the only certainty is a very
exciting fight. At least that is the opinion of these Brazilian
coaches and fighters who gave their view on the fight to
Sherdog.com.
Coaches, Fighters Weigh in on BMF Title Clash:
Vitor
Miranda, UFC Brazil commentator: “Given their characteristics,
I think it’s going to be crazy. It’s going to be a fight without
strategy, doing justice to the BMF belt. I see Charles embodying
his best version, moving forward and looking for the knockout, and
Max Holloway doing the same thing.”
Marcos “Parrumpa” da Matta, American Top Team coach: “Holloway is a
high-volume fighter who ramps up in the later rounds. Charles tends
to focus more on finishing in the early rounds. But if the fight
goes to the fifth round, Holloway usually ramps up in the final
rounds. To beat Max, Charles would have to secure the first
three.”
Melquizael
Costa, UFC featherweight: “Volume vs. precision. I see Charles
marching forward with that ‘gigantic timing,’ as he says, and
giving us a real heart attack test. Holloway undeniably has one of
the best striking techniques in MMA, combining movement and volume,
but Charles has evolved his striking a lot. He always had a heavy
hand, but I notice that he has greatly improved his movement. I see
Holloway using his volume to win round after round and Charles
constantly moving forward to finish.”
Flavio
Alvaro, Fighting Nerds coach: “I’m biased. I’ve been part of
Charles’ journey from the beginning. I’ll never forget what he did
in Rio last year. Charles is living the best momentum of his
career. I think he will finish in the third round.”
Paulo
Filho, former WEC middleweight champion: “Charles has to avoid
striking. Strike enough to land a punch and take him down. If he
takes it to the ground, I believe he’ll finish with relative ease.”