There isn’t a whole lot of trash-talking or marketing needed to sell Saturday’s rematch between Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 326 at T-Mobile Arena.
Two of the organization’s most exciting, and most respectful, stars probably wouldn’t participate in such contrived sales tactics anyway.
“This is new,” Oliveira said through a translator. “Two guys who have managed to get to this position by being respectful. We sell fights by fighting, by the things we do inside the octagon. There are kids, every time we are doing things, that are always watching. He’s a family man and my kids are here. The good things you do, kids will follow. Same with the bad things you do and say. We are guys who are not just going to pick up the mic and say crap about each other.”
What the promotion may lack in violent and angry rhetoric, the fight will likely more than make up for in beautiful violence.
Rematch a decade in the making
Oliveira and Holloway are two of the most exciting fighters the UFC has ever seen, though the outcome of their first fight 11 years ago left fans unfulfilled.
Oliveira suffered a bizarre injury less than two minutes into the bout that was later revealed to be an aggravation of a previous neck issue.
Both have gone on to legendary careers with great success at both featherweight and lightweight, winning world titles and racking up highlight-reel finishes and legions of fans.
Yet their paths haven’t crossed again until now. Oliveira isn’t necessarily looking to avenge that bizarre loss, however.
“Let’s forget about the other fight,” Oliveira said. “The first one didn’t exist, forget it, let’s kill it. He won, that’s it. It’s over. Two great fighters, two legends, two great champions who will have the opportunity to put on a great show on Saturday.”
From novelty to legendary
While he won’t be fighting for redemption, Oliveira will be challenging for a belt that started as a novelty and has now become part of UFC lore.
The winner will claim the “BMF belt,” a profane acronym for a somewhat unofficial title that symbolizes the toughest and baddest dude in the organization.
It has belonged to Holloway since he captured it in 2024, and he’s the only fighter to successfully “defend” it.
The “BMF” title is the one belt that is traditionally wrapped around the winner after the fight by a celebrity or special guest.
In the past, that has included Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and rapper Lil Wayne.
But Holloway and Oliveira have a different plan that falls right in line with their focus on their families.
Oliveira said he would like his dad to have the honor should he be victorious on Saturday.
“The reality is if my father and my mother hadn’t believed in me and supported me, none of this would’ve ever happened,” he said. “None of this would be possible. I wouldn’t be here. Having my father put the belt on me, that would be amazing.”
Holloway has selected his wife, professional surfer Alessa Quizon.
“(She’s the) true ‘BMF,’” Holloway said while wearing a shirt with her picture on it to media day. “If you look at my shirt, the real BMF is my wife. I would love her to wrap the belt around me.
“Everybody thinks I’m the BMF because of the title. You don’t want no smoke with her, I promise.”
Saturday’s event will make a bit of history regardless of the outcome of the bouts as it will be the first to have some fights simulcast live on CBS as part of a seven-year deal with Paramount.
While the entire card will stream on Paramount+ beginning at 2 p.m., the last two preliminary card bouts and the first two main card bouts will air concurrently on CBS.
A middleweight bout between Cody Brundage and hyped prospect Donte Johnson is expected to be the first fight to air on the network.
“It’s pretty cool,” Brundage said. “I know one day I’ll look back and think about how I’ve done some cool things in this sport. The resume keeps getting longer and longer. I’m not too focused on it, but yeah, it’s a cool thing.”
The CBS portion of the card may also be used to announce the card for what figures to be one of the most historic events in UFC history, a live card on the White House lawn on June 14.
Saturday’s main card, which also features a middleweight contender bout between Caio Borralho and Reinier de Ridder, begins at 6 p.m.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
