LAS VEGAS — After nearly 11 years, Charles Oliveira finally avenged a loss that has haunted him by outpointing Max Holloway on Saturday night to claim the UFC BMF title.
All five judges scored the fight 50-45 in favor of Oliveira (37-11), who dominated the bout from start to finish with relentless striking and superior grappling. Holloway (27-9), ranked fourth in the lightweight division, was unable to find his rhythm against Oliveira’s pressure.
“Max is the toughest guy I’ve ever fought against,” Oliveira, 36, said after the fight, holding his son in the post-fight interview. “I had to come here and dominate.”
Oliveira wasted no time asserting control, taking Holloway down within the first 30 seconds of the opening round and attempting a rear-naked choke. The first four rounds saw Oliveira maintain dominance on the ground while Holloway weathered strikes to the head and legs. The fifth round featured brief exchanges on the feet before Oliveira regained top position to close out the fight.
“I respect you so much,” Oliveira told Holloway after the bout. “If this division has two BMFs, those BMFs are Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway.”
The BMF belt, introduced by UFC in 2019, is awarded to the fighter who exemplifies ferocity and electrifying skill, regardless of weight class.
Undercard Highlights
- Caio Borralho (18-2-0) defeated Reinier de Ridder (21-4-0) in a three-round middleweight bout via unanimous decision, 30-27 on all cards.
- Raul Rosas Jr. (12-1) outpointed 13th-ranked bantamweight Rob Font (22-10) with a unanimous decision, 30-27.
- Drew Dober (29-15) delivered a second-round knockout of Michael Johnson (25-20) with a consecutive left-handed combination at 1:53.
- Gregory Rodrigues (19-6) scored a first-round knockout against Brunno Ferreira (15-3) at 1:47 with a counter right to the jaw.
The victory solidifies Oliveira’s place as one of the most formidable fighters in the UFC and marks a career-defining moment as he claims the prestigious BMF title.