The BMF belt will be on the line this weekend, when Charles Oliveira challenges champion Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 326 on Saturday night.
Holloway seeks his second defense of the ceremonial title. He beat Dustin Poirier by unanimous decision in his last fight in July. Oliveira has lost three of his last six fights, but is looking to start a new winning streak after beating Mateusz Gamrot via second-round submission in his last Octagon appearance in October.
A panel of four, including former fighters, coaches and analysts, offer picks and insights for the UFC 326 main event.
BMF title fight
expert shot
This is a tough matchup to pick, but I'm going with my boy Max. I think Max hits Oliveira on the feet and could get a stoppage from the referee. I don't know if Max knocks him out, but a TKO is possible. Charles will fight to keep Max down, and Max will simply tear him apart when the fight continues. -Dustin Poirier
I have to go with Max on this one. Over the years, Max has become a much smarter fighter. I think 155 pounds is the right weight class for him. His movement will be the decisive factor against Oliveira. It will allow him to avoid kicks and takedowns from Charles, and will eventually get the ball rolling offensively. And once Max gains momentum, there are not many people who can recover. — din tomás
There aren't many people I would pick in a fight against Holloway right now. He's too good, so unless it's Ilia Topuria, I won't choose them over Max. In fact, I think Max is more talented than Topuria, but Topuria has devastating power. So, I won't uphold Topuria's result. [a KO loss in 2024] against Max. For the fight against Oliveira, Holloway has incredible takedown defense and one of the highest fight IQs in the sport. Expect him to avoid places where Oliveira is at his best and separate Oliveira from the outside. — Antonio Smith
This is what being a BMF is all about. I love rematches and unfinished business. For Charles to win, I think he has to hurt Max or get knocked down, and Max is not an easy guy to take down. His footwork is very good and he has a great frame for the lightweight division. And he uses his footwork to lengthen his reach even further. That's why he changes his position. Between Max's long reach, fluidity, and volume of punches, I think Charles will have to hurt him to get him to the ground. As long as they fight on their feet, this matchup will be a field day for Max against Charles's high guard. -Michael Chiesa
