Conor McGregor and UFC Aces Trash Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway for ‘Shockingly Bad’ BMF Fight

Brazilian fan favourite Charles Oliveira showcases grappling dominance at UFC 326 to snatch the BMF title from Max Holloway.

Conor McGregor and UFC Aces Trash Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway for ‘Shockingly Bad’ BMF Fight

Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway at UFC 326 (via X)

In Short
  • Charles Oliveira won the BMF title at UFC 326, dominating Max Holloway with grappling and control.
  • The fight faced criticism for its slow pace and lack of striking, contrasting with previous BMF bouts.
  • Conor McGregor and other MMA figures expressed disappointment in Oliveira's performance, questioning the fight's legitimacy as a BMF contest.

The BMF belt crowned its fourth champion as Charles Oliveira captured the title at UFC 326, solidifying his status as a top lightweight. The Brazilian dominated Max Holloway, avenging his 2015 loss while winning the belt. Oliveira’s grappling and control left little chance for Holloway to mount offense. Many in the MMA community criticized the bout’s pace and style, questioning if it reflected the BMF belt’s heritage.

From the opening bell, Oliveira controlled the action with repeated takedowns and top‑position dominance. Holloway tried to stay standing, but Oliveira’s pressure kept forcing him back to the canvas. The Brazilian maintained positional superiority, landing ground strikes and threatening submissions each round. Holloway could not mount a consistent offense, letting ‘Do Bronx’ dictate the pace of the fight.

Holloway was only able to stand up from a takedown in the fifth round near the 20‑second mark, and the two separated shortly after 10 seconds. In the final moments, the Hawaiian legend attempted his iconic stand‑and‑bang approach, but Oliveira countered with a clean right hand before the bell. All three judges awarded a unanimous decision win (50-45,50-45,50-45) to Oliveira, who could not be happier.

The win served as redemption for Oliveira, who last held a UFC belt in 2022. His previous title fight ended in a devastating knockout loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 317 in 2025. Oliveira bounced back with a submission win over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Rio in October 2025 and immediately called out Holloway for the BMF belt. The timing and momentum of that victory set the stage perfectly for his success at UFC 326.

BMF fights in the past have often produced explosive, high‑action finishes. At UFC 300, Holloway faced Justin Gaethje, with five rounds of striking dominance ending in a last‑second highlight‑reel knockout. Similarly, Gaethje’s BMF bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 291 ended in a dominant head‑kick finish. These fights set a precedent for intense action, contrasting with Oliveira’s grappling‑focused approach.

Max Holloway, known for his striking prowess, looked helpless on the ground throughout the fight. He was unable to gain momentum and struggled against Oliveira’s grappling in every round, repeatedly losing position, and could not mount a meaningful offense. Charles Oliveira’s performance secured the BMF belt, but the fight’s one-sided nature left the spectacle far short of the excitement the title is known for.

MMA community reacts to the lackluster outcome of Max Holloway vs Charles Oliveira

UFC superstar Conor McGregor was critical of the UFC 326 main event before Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway stepped into the Octagon, arguing it should have been held at welterweight. After the outcome, he called out Oliveira for a lackluster performance and asked the UFC not to crown him champion. Luke Rockhold also questioned how the fight carried the BMF tag, given its limited striking and overall pace.

Charles Oliveira dominating Max Holloway at UFC 326
Charles Oliveira dominating Max Holloway at UFC 326 (via MMA Fighting)

Middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev experienced a similar grappling‑dominant outcome in his UFC 319 main event, and he called the UFC 326 bout a “highlight fight” despite Oliveira’s ground-heavy approach. One of the most notable callouts came from Nate Diaz, who is credited with the creation of the BMF belt, and he went on a heated rant aimed at ‘Do Bronx’ for diminishing the title with his performance.

Personalities from the boxing world weighed in on Charles Oliveira’s UFC 326 performance. Ryan Garcia called the fight boring, arguing that boxing produces more exciting bouts. However, legendary coach Teddy Atlas praised Oliveira’s technical, physical, and mental dominance and commended Holloway. Their contrasting views highlighted the debate over what makes a compelling combat sports performance.

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