The symbolic BMF (Baddest Motherf***er) title bouts in the UFC consistently deliver electrifying action, pitting warriors renowned for leaving everything in the octagon against each other. In the highly anticipated main event of UFC 326, former featherweight king Max Holloway is set to defend his prestigious BMF belt for a second time against the formidable former lightweight titleholder, Charles Oliveira.
This upcoming UFC 326 headliner is a compelling rematch, marking over a decade since their initial encounter. Holloway and Oliveira first clashed eleven years ago at UFC Fight Night 74 in a featherweight contest. That bout concluded prematurely when Holloway secured a victory after Oliveira suffered a neck injury early in the opening round. Now, with both fighters having evolved into elite champions and top contenders, their paths cross again under vastly different circumstances.
Current UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski, a fighter with a unique vantage point given his three victories over Max Holloway, recently offered his comprehensive analysis of this matchup. Sharing his insights, Volkanovski meticulously broke down the styles of both competitors before delivering his definitive prediction.
“Charles possesses a very distinct fighting style, and I don’t anticipate him changing it, especially with the BMF title on the line,” Volkanovski observed. “You won’t witness much lateral movement or long-range exchanges from Charles. His approach is consistently to press forward, maintaining a high guard, pushing directly into that ‘firing range’ where he thrives on engaging his opponents head-on.”
Regarding Holloway, Volkanovski elaborated, “While Max certainly has the ability to knock people out – we saw that with Justin Gaethje – he isn’t primarily a ‘KO puncher.’ His capacity to inflict damage comes more from his impeccable timing and relentless volume. He fights with calculated precision, not typically seeking out massive power shots unless it’s late in a fight or a crucial moment in a BMF contest.”
Drawing upon his extensive personal experience in the octagon against “Blessed,” Volkanovski arguably stands as the world’s foremost authority on Holloway’s abilities. He highlighted Holloway’s superior footwork, exceptional timing, robust takedown defense, high fight IQ, and capable grappling as pivotal strengths. For these reasons, Volkanovski firmly believes that Holloway will emerge victorious this Saturday.
“I think Max Holloway gets the win,” Volkanovski confidently stated. “Can he get a finish? Absolutely, 100 percent. I believe he can, and you know what? I’m going to predict a finish for Max.”
