Max Holloway will make his 32nd UFC appearance on Saturday, April 13, 2024, headlining UFC 326 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The former featherweight champion and current holder of the symbolic BMF title from Waianae faces Charles Oliveira in what marks the 14th time Holloway has been featured in a UFC main event. At age 34, Holloway recognizes the limited opportunities left to compete in the Octagon, making this fight particularly significant.
Career Highlights and Previous Encounters with Oliveira
Holloway first headlined a UFC event 11 years ago in Saskatchewan, Canada, where he faced Charles Oliveira in a UFC Fight Night card. He secured a first-round TKO victory after Oliveira suffered an esophagus injury. This victory was part of a 12-fight winning streak that eventually crowned Holloway as the featherweight world champion. Their rematch at UFC 326 carries a deep personal history, as Holloway reflected on their careers converging again years later.
At that moment, I didn’t think we would run into each other again, but as you watch my career and I was doing what I was doing, he was at 145 for a little while and then he went to (155) and he made his run, I was like, ‘oh man, we might fight each other again,’ Here it is now, many years later, and I can’t wait. I am so excited for this fight.
Holloway, UFC fighter
Fighting Frequency and Recent Performances
During his ascent through the UFC ranks, Holloway fought up to four times in a single year but has limited his appearances to twice annually since the COVID-19 pandemic began. His recent highlight was the knockout victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, where he secured the BMF title after an intense slugfest concluding with a stunning finish. Holloway later defended this title successfully against Dustin Poirier in Poirier’s hometown of New Orleans in what was Poirier’s final fight.
Aspirations to Fight in Hawaii’s New Stadium
Holloway expressed a deep desire to conclude his UFC career with a fight in Hawaii, specifically in the new Aloha Stadium, projected to open in spring 2029. Despite previous challenges with staging UFC events in Hawaii, including funding issues with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Holloway remains hopeful about fighting in front of his home crowd before retirement.
That would mean the world to me, Correct me if I’m wrong, but there is two professional sports in Hawaii that I think represents Hawaii the most, and that’s surfing, and that’s fighting. I feel like Hawaii gives the hardest time to people who try to promote that or try to do that all of the time. You have world champions in all of those sports so why would you give them a hard time?
Holloway, UFC fighter
He added uncertainty about continuing in the sport three years from now but emphasized that fighting in Hawaii’s new stadium would be enough motivation to keep competing.
At the end of the day, if I am still around, maybe we have a BMF title, maybe I have the undisputed title, but I would love to fight at home, I want to fight at home one time, one last time in the UFC. I want to be in the UFC, fighting in that stadium, and doing it and saying that we did it. A lot of people said that we can’t do it so I would love to have that happen, but we’ve got to figure it out, period.
Holloway, UFC fighter
Legacy of the BMF Title Belt and Personal Significance
Since the BMF title premiered at UFC 244 in 2019, where Nate Diaz clashed with Jorge Masvidal, the tradition has been to have a prominent figure other than UFC president Dana White present the belt. This tradition continued in recent years as Holloway received the belt from UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman at UFC 300 and from rapper Lil’ Wayne after his win over Poirier.
Holloway emotionally shared who he would want to present the title belt to him, revealing the importance of family in his career.
I would like my grandpa to put it around me,
Holloway said.
I lost him when I was in the eighth grade, but I just would want him to do it to see how far I have come. He’s probably up there in heaven right now looking down at me and just shaking his head at the career path I chose.
Holloway, UFC fighter
But an alive person, I think I would have to give it up to my wife (Alessa). A lot of people think I am the BMF because I have this title, but you guys haven’t met my wife. She’s everything to me and our son, Rush. If she got to put the belt around me, that would be super cool. Maybe I will ask Dana.
Holloway, UFC fighter
Details of UFC 326 Fight Night
Saturday’s UFC 326 event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will feature Holloway vs. Oliveira for the BMF title as the main event. The fight is expected to begin shortly after 6 p.m. PT, following the main card’s 4 p.m. start, and will be broadcast live on Paramount Plus. Both fighters enter with seasoned records: Holloway currently holds a 27-8 professional record, while Oliveira stands at 36-11 with one no-contest.
