As UFC 326 approaches, criticism mounts over the quality of its fight card, casting doubts on the event’s overall appeal. While anticipation builds for the BMF title rematch between Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira, the earlier 12 fights have drawn skepticism for not meeting the elevated standards associated with a major numbered UFC event.
The event is set to take place this Saturday, featuring a lineup that includes matchups such as Caio Borralho versus Reinier de Ridder and Rob Font facing Raul Rosas Jr. Fans and analysts alike are questioning the strength of this undercard leading up to the high-profile main event.
Detailed Breakdown of UFC 326 Matchups
UFC 326 offers a 13-fight lineup that precedes the main event, including:
- Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira
- Caio Borralho vs. Reinier de Ridder
- Rob Font vs. Raul Rosas Jr.
- Drew Dober vs. Michael Johnson
- Gregory Rodrigues vs. Brunno Ferreira
- Cody Garbrandt vs. Xiao Long
- Ricky Turcios vs. Alberto Montes
- Cody Durden vs. Nyamjargal Tumendembere
- Donte Johnson vs. Cody Brundage
- Su Mudaerji vs. Jesús Santos Aguilar
- Luke Fernandez vs. Rodolfo Bellato
- Lee Jeong-yeong vs. Gaston Bolaños
- Rafael Tobias vs. Diyar Nurgozhay
This range of matchups spans various weight classes and fighter experience levels, but many spectators have expressed reservations about the overall excitement and competitiveness of these bouts before the headline.
Dan Hardy’s Perspective on the Event’s Fight Quality
Former UFC competitor and current analyst Dan Hardy shared a candid assessment of UFC 326, expressing that the card does not align with typical pay-per-view expectations. Though Hardy remains an MMA enthusiast who plans to watch, he finds the card peculiar compared to previous numbered events.
“It definitely doesn’t look like a pay-per-view card, absolutely,”
Hardy told Submission Radio.
He highlighted the matchup between Drew Dober and Michael Johnson as the most compelling due to their aggressive styles and willingness to take risks, describing it as potentially explosive but also unpredictable.
Hardy also noted Rob Font’s role as a gatekeeper facing rising young talent, emphasizing that while some fights are intriguing, the event overall feels unusual for a pay-per-view spectacle.
“I don’t know, it’s an interesting card. I’ll be watching, of course, but I won’t be quite as pay-per-view excited as normal.”
Context on Holloway vs. Oliveira Rematch and Fighter Evolutions
The UFC 326 main event revisits the 2015 featherweight clash where Max Holloway secured a quick TKO over Charles Oliveira, whose fight that night was complicated by a serious neck injury. This rematch in the BMF division represents Oliveira’s opportunity to avenge that loss after establishing his legendary status at lightweight.
Hardy reflected on Oliveira’s progression since their first meeting and how their earlier encounter involved younger, less developed versions of themselves.
“I don’t even think Charles Oliveira is the same person psychologically as he was in that fight,”
Hardy remarked.
“When he was at featherweight, there was something kind of flimsy and brittle about him. That was my memory of that fight. Nothing massively significant happened, and I feel like they were both very young versions of themselves.”
Anticipating the Impact of UFC 326’s Outcomes
Though the card faces criticism, the event still carries significance, especially with the BMF title rematch potentially reshaping the reputations of Holloway and Oliveira. The varied fight roster, despite its perceived weaknesses, will offer opportunities for several fighters to prove themselves and change the narrative around this particular UFC show.
As fight week progresses, the focus will sharpen on whether the undercard can deliver unexpected excitement or if the event will be remembered primarily for its main event storyline and the lingering questions around the lineup’s overall strength.
