UFC 326 is set to take place on Saturday, March 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will feature former featherweight champion Max Holloway aiming for the BMF title against former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. This event marks a further step in the UFC’s collaboration with Paramount+, as two hours of live UFC 326 fights will be simulcast on CBS, expanding access beyond the streaming service.
The preliminary bouts begin at 5 p.m. ET, with main card fights starting at 9 p.m. The simulcast on CBS will cover the final hour of prelims and the first hour of the main card, from 8 to 10 p.m. Following this, the remainder of UFC 326’s main card will be exclusively available on Paramount+.
Complete UFC 326 Fight Lineup
The UFC 326 fight card includes the following matchups:
- Max Holloway (c) vs. Charles Oliveira — lightweight bout for the BMF title
- Caio Borralho vs. Reinier de Ridder — middleweight contest
- Gregory Rodrigues vs. Brunno Ferreira — middleweight clash
- Rob Font vs. Raul Rosas Jr. — bantamweight fight
- Cody Garbrandt vs. Xiao Long — bantamweight bout
- Cody Durden vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel — flyweight battle
- Donte Johnson vs. Duško Todorovic — middleweight matchup
- Yoo Joo-sang vs. Gaston Bolanos — featherweight contest
- Luke Fernandez vs. Rodolfo Bellato — light heavyweight fight
- Su Mudaerji vs. Jesús Santos Aguilar — flyweight encounter
The Legacy of MMA on CBS Network Television
Mixed martial arts have a notable history on CBS. In 2008, the network aired EliteXC: Primetime, the first live MMA event on American primetime network TV, headlined by Kimbo Slice facing James Thompson, drawing around five million viewers. Additional EliteXC events followed, including a bout featuring Robbie Lawler vs. Scott Smith, and another where Kimbo Slice lost to Seth Petruzelli in just 14 seconds after a last-minute opponent change.
In 2009, CBS partnered with Strikeforce, showcasing events such as the bout between Fedor Emelianenko and Brett Rogers that attracted nearly 5.5 million viewers. However, a post-fight altercation known as the Nashville Brawl effectively ended Strikeforce’s network TV presence.
Return of UFC to CBS and Upcoming Special Preview
Now, CBS reintroduces mixed martial arts to its viewers by simulcasting UFC 326, featuring many of the sport’s top athletes including Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira. Ahead of the event, CBS will air an hour-long special titled This is UFC on Friday, February 20 at 8 p.m. This program will explore how the UFC evolved from a niche spectacle into a world-leading fighting promotion through interviews with UFC president Dana White, veteran fighters, and emerging stars.
Broader Implications for Fan Access and MMA Promotion
This simulcast partnership between UFC and CBS, alongside Paramount+, enhances accessibility for fans who may not subscribe to streaming platforms, helping the UFC expand its reach. It also marks a significant moment in the sport’s television presence, leveraging the broad audience of network TV to showcase marquee fights and elevating MMA’s mainstream appeal. Fans interested in watching the full UFC 326 event can subscribe to Paramount+, where every UFC numbered event and Fight Night streaming is included at subscription rates beginning around $8.99 per month.
