UFC 326 live results: Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira 2 BMF Title fight
Two bonafide future UFC Hall of Fame fighters step inside the Octagon to do battle this weekend as UFC 326 takes place inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, airing on Paramount+ with a special two-hour block of fights airing on CBS for the first time.
The main event sees the UFC BMF Championship on the line as current title holder Max Holloway defends against Charles Oliveira. This is a rematch of a fight that never really got going over a decade ago when Holloway scored a win over Oliveria in August 2015 when Oliveira suffered an injury less than two minutes into the fight. Both men have gone on to become champions and carve out legendary careers heading into this rematch.
The co-main event is a middleweight bout between two men aiming to get back into title contention as Caio Borralho takes on Reinier de Ridder.
Also on the main card is a bantamweight bout between Rob Font and Raul Rosas Jr.; a lightweight bout pitting Drew Dober against Michael Johnson; and a middleweight bout between Gregory Rodrigues and Brunno Ferreira.
The Dober vs. Johnson and Rodrigues vs. Ferreira bouts, as well as a bantamweight fight between Cody Garbrandt and Xiao Long, and a middleweight bout between Donte Johnson and Cody Brundage, will air on CBS, the first two-hour block of UFC action on the station under the new media rights deal. That two-hour block begins at 8 p.m. eastern time.
PRELIMS | 5:30 PM ET/2:30 PM PT
> Light Heavyweights- Luke Fernandez (6-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Rodolfo Bellato (12-3-1 1 NC, 1-1-1 1 NC UFC)
Fernandez lands a knee to the body to start. Fernandez lands a leg kick and starts working the jab. Fernandez with a right hand and a pair of uppercuts backs Bellato up and they clinch against the fence. Fernandez with some knees as Bellato lands to the body. Fernandez lands a right hand as they break. Fernandez works the jab as Bellato lands a left hook to the body. Fernandez lands a solid right hand. Fernandez with some uppercuts in a brief clinch. Bellato lands in close range and drops Fernandez. Bellato starts teeing off on the ground and Fernandez gives up his back. Bellato with tons of shots and it is stopped! Bellato scores an upset in the opener.
Fight Result- Rodolfo Bellato def. Luke Fernandez by TKO (punches) at 2:42 of Round 1
> Light Heavyweights- Rafael Tobias (14-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Diyar Nurgozhay (10-2, 0-2 UFC)
Nurgozhay lands some straight left hands and a front kick to the body. Tobias swings and misses as Nurgozhay lands to the body. Nurgozhay with a leg kick and lands a left hand followed by a front kick. They trade and Nurgozhay grabs the body and they go to the fence. Nurgozhay lands a groin strike and Tobias is hurt as Nurgozhay is continuing to land and Herb Dean calls a stop to call timeout for the groin shot. They return to action and Nurgozhay lands a combination. Nurgozhay with a leg kick. Tobias lands a leg kick. Nurgozhay with a left hand. Nurgozhay lands to the body. Tobias with a high kick. Tobias lands a right hand but eats a counter combo from Nurgozhay. They trade and Nurgozhay lands a body kick. Tobias lands a right hand. They both connect in close range. Nurgozhay lands a right hand and Tobias lands a right hand. 10-9 Nurgozhay.
Nurgozhay lands a combo and a leg kick. Nurgozhay with a left hand. Nurgozhay lands another left hand. Nurgozhay with a leg kick followed by a left hand. Tobias isn’t really landing much. Nurgozhay lands a stiff left hand. Tobias grabs a leg but lets go and lands a combo. Tobias looks for a takedown against the fence but Nurgozhay grabs the fence to block it. Tobias is working hard for the takedown but Nurgozhay is defending. They separate. Tobias lands a big right hand and another punch and Nurgozhay is hurt. Tobias scores a takedown and gets the mount. Tobias landing left hands from the top. Tobias is looking to set up a choke but Nurgozhay reverses into the guard of Tobias. Nurgozhay landing big shots from the top. Nurgozhay stands and Tobias is just laying on the ground and is ordered up at the end of the round. 10-9 Nurgozhay, 20-18 Nurgozhay.
Nurgozhay lands a pair of body kicks. He lands another as Tobias lands a left hand. Nurgozhay lands a straight left hand to the body. Nurgozhay lands a left hand and a front kick to the body. Nurgozhay with some leg kicks. Nurgozhay lands a combination and a front kick to the body again. Tobias with a body kick. They’re trading in close range but not a lot of action is happening. Tobias forces a clinch and looks for a takedown but Nurgozhay defends. Both land a knee as they battle for position. Tobias gets Nurgozhay down and has the back and jumps on it as they stand. Tobias looks for a leg. 10-9 Nurgozhay, 30-27 Nurgozhay.
Fight Result- Diyar Nurgozhay def. Rafael Tobias by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
> Flyweights- Sumudaerji (18-7, 5-4 UFC) vs. Jesus Aguilar (12-3, 4-2 UFC)
Sumudaerji lands an inside leg kick. Sumudaerji works the jab as Aguilar lands a leg kick. Aguilar with a calf kick as Sumudaerji just misses a jumping knee. Aguilar looks for a takedown against the fence as they clinch. Aguilar with a few short knees against the fence. They break apart. Sumudaerji lands a straight left hand and a low kick that hits the groin of Aguilar and timeout is called. They get back going. Sumudaerji with a pair of kicks. Sumudaerji lands a head kick. Sumudaerji with a wheel kick that Aguilar barely blocks. Aguilar lands a leg kick but eats a combo from Sumudaerji. Sumudaerji lands a high kick. Sumudaerji with a big throw takedown and he starts landing from the top, but they quickly stand. They trade punches. 10-9 Sumudaerji.
They’re both throwing various kicks to start the second but neither really landing. Sumudaerji lands a left hand. Sumudaerji scores a takedown and lands from the top. Aguilar gets Sumudaerji inside his full guard. Sumudaerji lands but they scramble up. Sumudaerji lands an uppercut. Sumudaerji with a front kick then lands a leg kick. Aguilar looks for a takedown but Sumudaerji defends and they trade late. 10-9 Sumudaerji, 20-18 Sumudaerji.
Aguilar throws a flurry but Sumudaerji grabs him and scores a takedown. Sumudaerji tries to keep Aguilar pinned but they get up, though Sumudaerji gets Aguilar back down to the mat. They scramble up and separate. Sumudaerji lands a front kick and a jab as Aguilar lands a right hand. Sumudaerji lands a jumping knee but it allows Aguilar to get a takedown. They get up and Aguilar lands before they break apart. Sumudaerji lands a body kick followed by a solid combination. Aguilar looks for a single leg as they push to the fence. Sumudaerji lands and Aguilar backs off. Sumudaerji with a spin kick to the body. Aguilar lands a left hand. Sumudaerji lands a big left hand and a big flurry late and Aguilar briefly went down near the end. 10-9 Sumudaerji, 30-27 Sumudaerji.
Fight Result- Sumudaerji def. Jesus Aguilar by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Flyweights- Cody Durden (17-9-1, 6-7-1 UFC) vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (9-1, 1-1 UFC)
Both land leg kicks early on. Durden shoots for a takedown but Tumendemberel grabs the neck and looks for a guillotine choke. Durden is able to get out and they get up with Durden still having body control. Tumendemberel is able to force separation. They trade leg kicks and Durden shoots for a takedown. Tumendemberel grabs the neck and uses it to scramble up. Durden back attacking the takedown against the fence. Durden gets another takedown but Tumendemberel gets to sprawl position and they stand. Tumendemberel gets a big takedown and is in the guard of Durden. Durden looking for an armbar from the bottom. Tumendemberel escapes and they get to their feet. Durden gets Tumendemberel back down but eats some hard elbows at the same time. 10-9 Tumendemberel.
Tumendemberel lands a left hand and they trade in close range. Durden looks for a takedown but Tumendemberel scrambles to the top, though Durden attacks the leg. Tumendemberel is able to take the back of Durden and is working for a choke with the body triangle locked on. Durden reverses and is now on top. Tumendemberel is able to reverse and is on top in side control. Tumendemberel with a big elbow and some right hands from the top. Durden attacks the leg but Tumendemberel gets out and they stand. Tumendemberel lands a right hand right into a takedown. Tumendemberel controlling the neck as he lands a short elbow. Durden gives up his back and Tumendemberel lands some punches though one was to the back of the head. They stand and Durden lands a right hand before the bell and Tumendemberel lands a right hand way after the bell. 10-9 Tumendemberel, 20-18 Tumendemberel.
They clinch right up and scramble to the mat and go to the fence with Tumendemberel on top. Tumendemberel gets the back but Durden escapes and jumps on the back of Tumendemberel as they’re on the feet. Tumendemberel shakes Durden off and is on top and lands a pair of elbows. They stand as Tumendemberel lands some knees. Tumendemberel gets the back as they go back to the mat. Tumendemberel with a right hand from the back and he starts looking for a choke. Durden is rolling as Tumendemberel keeps the back, but Durden ends up on top. Durden looks for an arm triangle choke. He has it locked in but Tumendemberel rolls and Durden lets go and is now on the back. Durden lands from the back. Tumendemberel shakes Durden off and lands a right hand and gets into side control. Tumendemberel attacks the neck. Tumendemberel lands after the bell again. 10-9 Durden, 29-28 Tumendemberel.
Fight Result- Nyamjargal Tumendemberel def. Cody Durden by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
> Featherweights- Ricky Turcios (12-5, 2-3 UFC) vs. Alberto Montes (10-1, 0-0 UFC)
Turcios lands a leg kick. They trade leg kicks and Turcios looks for a takedown, but Montes defends it as they’re tied up against the fence. They trade knees against the fence before breaking apart. Montes works the jab. Turcios lands a leg kick. They trade in close range. Turcios pushes Montes against the fence. They break apart and Montes lands an elbow. Montes lands a combination then a knee as they tie up for a moment. They trade combinations. Montes lands an uppercut followed by two solid right hands. Turcios gets the clinch against the fence. Montes lands a knee to the body. They break apart and both land punches. Montes grabs the neck as they sprawl. Montes with a knee to the body as they stand. Montes lands a body kick followed by a right hand and another front kick to the body. 10-9 Montes.
They trade and Turcios looks for a takedown. Montes grabs the neck and locks in an anaconda choke. It is in deep and Turcios goes out! What a finish from Montes!
Fight Result- Alberto Montes def. Ricky Turcios by submission (D’Arce choke) at :40 of Round 2
> Middleweights- Donte Johnson (7-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Cody Brundage (11-8-1 1 NC, 5-7-1 1 NC UFC)
Brundage gets a takedown as Johnson went to land to start. Brundage pushes it to the fence from the top. Brundage is just holding on at the moment. Johnson with short shots from the bottom as Brundage isn’t doing much on top. Brundage with a few left hands from the top. Johnson scrambles and they get to their feet. Johnson lands some kicks. Brundage lands a right hand. He lands another. They trade punches. Johnson with a combo as Brundage lands a jab. Johnson lands a pair of right hands. 10-9 Brundage.
Johnson lands a little. Brundage shoots for a takedown but Johnson sprawls and grabs the neck. They’re just laying on the mat in sprawl position. Johnson looks to transition as Brundage just stays on his knees. Brundage attacks the leg and gets Johnson down and takes the back. Brundage lands two right hands from the back. Johnson tries to stand with Brundage on his back. Brundage attacks an arm. Johnson gets out and lands big shots from the top. Brundage gives up his back and is covering up as Johnson lands. Johnson has the neck and lands some right hands. Johnson continues to control the neck and land punches. Johnson stands and backs off to let Brundage up. Timeout is called for an eye poke by Johnson. They get back going and Johnson lands. 10-9 Johnson, 19-19.
Brundage shoots for a takedown but Johnson sprawls and grabs the neck. Johnson lets go and they stand. Johnson working the jab. Johnson lands a pair of leg kicks. Brundage lands a right hand. Brundage with a leg kick. Johnson lands a left hook. Brundage lands a pair of jabs. They trade left hands. Johnson lands a left hand. Brundage still mainly working the jab. Brundage lands a leg kick. Brundage with a stiff jab. Johnson cracks Brundage with a right hand and Brundage looks for a takedown. Brundage lets go and Johnson is pressing forward and lands a left hand. Brundage looks for a takedown but Johnson sprawls. They get back up. They both throw at the end. 10-9 Johnson, 29-28 Johnson.
Fight Result- Donte Johnson def. Cody Brundage by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
> Bantamweights- Cody Garbrandt (14-7, 9-7 UFC) vs. Xiao Long (27-10, 1-2 UFC)
Garbrandt lands a combination. Long lands a pair of leg kicks then a head kick. Garbrandt looks to set up a takedown and lands a knee. Garbrandt with a left hand. Long lands a body kick. Garbrandt ducks under a punch and gets the underhooks against the fence. Garbrandt lands an elbow and Long goes to a knee but gets right up. Garbrandt lands a body kick. Garbrandt with a spinning elbow. Long lands a pair of leg kicks. Garbrandt with a leg kick. Long lands a head kick. Garbrandt gets a brief takedown and has the back as they get to their feet. They break apart and Garbrandt lands an elbow on the break. Garbrandt with a quick combo. 10-9 Long.
They trade leg kicks. They tie up as both look for a takedown but they end up separating. Garbrandt with a front kick to the body. Long still working mainly leg kicks. Garbrandt lands a right hand. Long with a right hand and a body kick. Long presses forward with some punches and a body kick. Long with a leg kick that trips Garbrandt up. They clinch along the fence but quickly break apart. Long with a body kick. Long with a head kick that Garbrandt blocks. Long lands a right hand. Garbrandt lands a knee. A clash of heads sends Long down for a moment near the end of the round but he gets up. 10-9 Long, 20-18 Long.
Garbrandt lands a leg kick. Long lands a groin kick and timeout is called. They resume and Long lands another groin strike, this one worse than the last one, and timeout is called again. Garbrandt was puking into a bucket during timeout but he is going to continue. Long has a point taken away and they get back going. Garbrandt rushes out with a flying knee. They clinch against the fence. Long with a pair of knees and one landed to the groin again. Timeout is called and Long has another point taken away. They get back to action. Garbrandt lands a right hand. Garbrandt with a quick combo but not much is happening. Garbrandt with another quick combo. They briefly clinch and Garbrandt lands a knee. Long with a head kick. Long lands a knee to the head. Garbrandt lands a knee as they separate. Long gets a late takedown and ends the fight on top. 9-8 Garbrandt due to the point deductions, 28-27 Long.
Fight Result- Cody Garbrandt def. Xiao Long by unanimous decision (28-27, 28-27, 28-27)
MAIN CARD | 9 PM ET/6 PM PT
> Middleweights- #13 Gregory Rodrigues (18-6, 9-3 UFC) vs. #15 Brunno Ferreira (15-2, 6-2 UFC)
Nothing has happened in the first minute. Ferreira lands a right hand. Rodrigues lands a massive right hand and Ferreira goes down and is out and it is all over!
Fight Result- Gregory Rodrigues def. Brunno Ferreira by knockout (punch) at 1:47 of Round 1
> Lightweights- Drew Dober (28-15 1 NC, 14-11 1 NC UFC) vs. Michael Johnson (24-19, 16-15 UFC)
Johnson lands a leg kick then a left hand. Johnson with a combination and Dober backs up due to it. Dober lands a leg kick. Johnson with an inside leg kick. Dober connects with a left hand. Johnson lands a big left hand. They trade in close range. Johnson lands a leg kick. Dober lands a right hook. Dober lands a leg kick. Dober with a left hand and a body kick. Johnson lands a leg kick and a left hand. They both land left hands. Johnson lands a solid left hand. Johnson with a leg kick. 10-9 Johnson.
They trade to start the second. Johnson lands a right hand. Dober with a leg kick. Dober lands a body kick. Dober lands a leg kick and Johnson lands a counter right hand. Dober lands a solid left hand as Johnson lands a jab. Dober lands a massive left hand and Johnson goes down and is out cold! What a knockout by Dober!
Fight Result- Drew Dober def. Michael Johnson by TKO (punch) at 1:53 of Round 2
> Bantamweights- #13 Rob Font (22-9, 12-8 UFC) vs. Raul Rosas Jr. (11-1, 5-1 UFC)
They both land leg kicks. Font with a body kick. Font lands a stiff jab. Rosas Jr. lands a leg kick. Rosas Jr. lands a leg kick and spins out of Font grabbing the leg. Rosas Jr. works the jab. Font lands a pair of body shots followed by a right hand. Rosas Jr. scores a takedown. Rosas Jr. with some body shots from the top. They almost posture up but Rosas Jr. keeps it down, though they get back up. Rosas Jr. has back control and drags Font back down, but they stand. Rosas Jr. keeps dragging Font down but they always immediately stand. Rosas Jr. keeps back control as the round ends. 10-9 Rosas Jr..
Rosas Jr. gets a takedown and Font threatens with a triangle choke, but Rosas Jr. escapes and is inside the guard of Font. They scramble up and Rosas Jr. has back control. Rosas Jr. gets Font back down from the back, but Font is able to recover his guard. Rosas Jr. looks to transition to side control. Both land elbows. Font rolls out but Rosas Jr. is able to keep him down. Rosas Jr. sweeps to the half-guard. Rosas Jr. lands from the top. 10-9 Rosas Jr., 20-18 Rosas Jr..
Font lands a right hand. Rosas Jr. scores a takedown and lands some from the top before they stand. Rosas Jr. has back control and drags Font back to the mat. Rosas Jr. gets into the half-guard. They keep getting up and Rosas Jr. keeps dragging it back down and controlling and landing from the top as they go the distance. 10-9 Rosas Jr., 30-27 Rosas Jr..
Fight Result- Raul Rosas Jr. def. Rob Font by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Middleweights- #7 Caio Borralho (17-2 1 NC, 7-1 UFC) vs. #8 Reinier de Ridder (21-3, 4-1 UFC)
Borralho lands a spin kick. Borralho lands some leg kicks. They trade and Borralho lands a right hand and de Ridder slips to the mat but he gets right up. Borralho lands a left hand and then de Ridder lands a groin strike and timeout is called. They get back to action. Borralho lands a leg kick and de Ridder lands a combo. Borralho with a left hand and a leg kick. Borralho lands a solid combination. Both land some solid kicks. de Ridder scores a takedown and has back control as they scramble. They get back up and de Ridder maintains control and gets Borralho back down. Borralho lands an elbow and they get up. 10-9 Borralho.
Borralho lands a leg kick. Borralho lands a left hand. de Ridder grabs Borralho and is looking for a takedown as he has the body lock. de Ridder ends up letting go and they trade punches. Borralho lands a leg kick. de Ridder lands a combination. They both land and clinch at the end. 10-9 de Ridder, 19-19.
de Ridder lands a knee and Borralho is able to score a takedown. Borralho gets the half-guard and both land elbows to the body. They end up getting up after not much action. Both land punches and Borralho lands a leg kick. de Ridder lands a combination. Borralho lands a body shot. They trade late. 10-9 Borralho, 29-28 Borralho.
Fight Result- Caio Borralho def. Reinier de Ridder by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> UFC BMF Championship- C Max Holloway (27-8, 23-8 UFC) vs. #3 LW Charles Oliveira (36-11 1 NC, 24-11 1 NC UFC)
Oliveira lands a pair of leg kicks. Holloway lands a right hand. Holloway with a right hand followed by a jab. Both land combinations. They are throwing big shots and Oliveira gets a takedown. Oliveira lands a knee to the belly and then stands. Oliveira goes back down in side control and lands some elbows. Holloway gives up his back and Oliveira jumps on it as they stand. Oliveira is looking for a choke and it’s on the face. Oliveira is squeezing but lets go as Holloway escapes. Oliveira with left hands. He now lands some elbows to the body. Oliveira looks for the choke again but Holloway escapes. Holloway survives the round. 10-9 Oliveira.
They trade right hands. Holloway with a quick combination. Oliveira lands a body kick and looks for a takedown and gets it. Oliveira gets to top side mount. Oliveira is working for a choke again. Oliveira gets the back and is trying to find an opening for a choke as Holloway is defending. Oliveira lets go and lands some big elbows. Oliveira has the back with the hooks on and lands some hard elbows. Oliveira looks for a choke. Holloway fights it off. The action stalls a little late in the round. Oliveira lands a right hand. 10-8 Oliveira, 20-17 Oliveira.
I don’t know what happened in the first two minutes of round three as the Paramount+ feed completely died, but it came back on with Oliveira on top and looking for the mount. Oliveira working from the half-guard and lands to the body. Holloway is pinned on the bottom and unable to escape. Oliveira lands an elbow. Oliveira lands from the top to end the round. 10-9 Oliveira, 30-26 Oliveira.
Holloway lands a leg kick and a right hand. Holloway having success with his striking. Oliveira shoots for a takedown and has the body lock. Holloway is defending. Oliveira gets Holloway down to the mat. Oliveira gets the mount and lands some big elbows. Holloway is trying to scramble out but gives up his back. Oliveira has the body triangle locked on but not a lot of action is happening. 10-9 Oliveira, 40-35 Oliveira.
They trade and Holloway scores a takedown. Oliveira is trying to sweep out from the bottom as Holloway lands some short punches from the top. They end up back on their feet and Oliveira scores a takedown. Oliveira working from inside the guard of Holloway. Oliveira lands a pair of elbows. Oliveira gets to the half-guard as he’s pressuring from the top. They get to their feet and Oliveira has the back. They both land right hands at the end. 10-9 Oliveira, 50-44 Oliveira.
Fight Result- Charles Oliveira def. Max Holloway by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) to win the UFC BMF Championship
MMA writer & live coverage specialist, contributor to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter