In slightly below two weeks’ time, fight sports activities followers will likely be in for one more UFC occasion. On March 7, 2026, on the iconic T-Cellular Area in Paradise, Nevada, UFC 326, dubbed Holloway vs. Oliveira 2, will happen. After a couple of Struggle Nights in a row, that is the primary numbered occasion since 325: Bautista vs. Oliveira occurred on February 7, and the fan favourite MMA taking place has some excessive stakes on the road. That includes two veterans within the headline combat, the light-weight bout between former featherweight champion Max Holloway and former light-weight champion Charles Oliveira goes to be a memorable one. Will there be a brand new previous champion, or will the present one proceed holding the celebrated belt?
With eight extra bouts throughout three playing cards and 6 weight lessons, the upcoming Final Combating Championship occasion in Vegas is a feast for each preventing sports activities fan. It has legends trying to delay and increase on their already unbelievable legacies, younger hopefuls trying to make a reputation for themselves, and established fighters who’re transferring up the ranks in an effort to problem for title belts within the close to future. As such, the evening is a major time event for the followers of on-line sports activities betting. UFC is among the many high sports activities for wagering, and numbered occasions supply loads of markets and nice odds that fans can make the most of. The Exclusive UFC 326 picks and predictions are out, so examine them out as we preview the fights.
UFC 326 Fundamentals and Overview
UFC 326: Holloway vs. Oliveira 2 is without doubt one of the most anticipated combined martial arts occasions on the 2026 Final Combating Championship calendar to date. The 12 months began robust. We’re solely in February to date, however there have already been some wonderful occasions. Set to happen on Saturday, March 7, 2026, on the T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas, Nevada, this one ought to high all of them. The cardboard will stream reside on Paramount+, with a historic simulcast on CBS that brings UFC motion again to main broadcast tv. It is going to be simulcasting choose preliminary bouts and a part of the primary card in primetime, the primary time a UFC numbered occasion has appeared on the community underneath the brand new media rights take care of Paramount and TKO Group.
The occasion’s predominant card begins round 9 p.m. ET, with earlier prelims beginning at 7 p.m. and early prelims at 5 p.m. All are topic to vary as soon as the ultimate combat order is confirmed. Along with the headline bout, the cardboard contains a vary of ranked contenders and fan favourite fighters throughout a number of weight lessons, illustrating the depth of expertise and aggressive matchups that the promotion is thought for. The state UFC is in proper now could be arguably the very best it has ever been, which is confirmed by the extra frequent high tier occasions, new sponsorship offers, and legends having a number of fights per 12 months. For the followers who’re solely in it for the massive ones, that is a kind of.
Headline Occasion Evaluation
Headlining UFC 326 is a BMF (Baddest MotherFucker) Championship rematch between perennial MMA superstars Max Holloway (Ambassador of Stake.com) and Charles Oliveira, a combat wealthy with historical past and implications for each males’s legacies. Their first assembly got here greater than a decade earlier, in August 2015, in a light-weight bout that resulted in simply 1 minute, 39 seconds because of an harm stoppage. Subsequently, it left a complete bunch of unanswered questions on how Oliveira would possibly reply to Holloway. Since then, Holloway rose to change into some of the prolific fighters in UFC historical past, amassing quite a few data at featherweight earlier than capturing and defending the symbolic BMF title.
Oliveira’s profession additionally developed dramatically, with an 11 combat successful streak at light-weight, a UFC championship, and yearly battles in opposition to elite competitors throughout a number of years. After a interval of what’s a mean profession for many fighters, this rematch not solely settles an previous, unfinished chapter but additionally has broader implications. A victory might reposition both fighter for future title competition and cement their standing amongst all time greats. The BMF title itself, a non conventional belt born out of fan ardour, provides a novel aggressive and cultural edge to this matchup. The narrative is what typically drives followers to get pleasure from fight sports activities, and UFC acknowledged the potential on this one.
Newest Odds and Predictions
For many who need to bet on UFC 326, right here goes probably the most attention-grabbing half. As talked about, combined martial arts bouts are among the many most fun for bettors as a result of so much can occur. Whether or not within the first minute or so or after a full combat, it may be sudden regardless of there normally being clear favorites and underdogs. Beginning with the early preliminaries and preliminaries and into the primary card, we now analyze the chances for every of the fights.
The occasion begins with a light-weight heavyweight duel between Luke Fernandez from the USA and Rodolfo Bellato from Brazil. For the American, it’s his debut, whereas the Brazilian has a 1-2-2 document in his final 5. This is the reason the rookie fighter out of the USA is the favourite with 1.41 odds versus the Brazilian’s 2.95.
Within the featherweight division, Korean Joo Sang Yoo was presupposed to combat the Peruvian Gaston Bolanos. Yoo has a 9-1 document whereas Bolanos is at 8-5 and 2-2 in his final four4. The Korean was the favourite right here, with 1.47 odds, whereas his opponent was solely at 2.70. Nonetheless, Yoo withdrew because of a foot harm and was changed by Lee Jeong-yeong.
Rounding up the early prelims is a flyweight division matchup the place Su Mudaerji (18-7) from China faces off in opposition to Jesus Aguilar from Mexico (12-3). The Chinese language fighter is simply 2-3 in his earlier 5, whereas the Mexican favourite is 4-1. Regardless of this, Su is the favourite with 1.38 odds, a giant disparity from Aguilar’s 3.10.
Transferring on to the prelims, Cody Durden (17-9-1) goes up in opposition to Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (9-1) within the flyweight division. Durden from the USA is the underdog right here with 2.20 odds, as he’s solely 1-4 in his earlier 5. His Mongolian opponent is at 1.68 as the favourite to win it, with a 1-1 as his current document.
Within the featherweight division, it’s the American, Ricky Turcios, with 13-5 in opposition to the Venezuelan, Alberto Montes, with 11-1. Montes is a transparent reduce favourite in accordance with the bookies, since he obtained 1.46 odds to take this bout. Turcios may have a barely taller job as he’s caught with 2.75 odds.
To complete off the preliminaries, we have now a bantamweight duel between Cody Garbrandt from the USA, with a 14-7 profession document and 2-3 in his earlier 5, in opposition to Xiao Lengthy from China, with a 27-10 and 1-2 in his final three. These are two very skilled fighters, and Lengthy fares higher in odds with 1.67 over Garbrandt’s 2.22.
On to the primary card, middleweight is up first with Gregory Rodrigues (rank 13) versus Bruno Ferreira (rank 15). Each Brazilians are 4-1 of their final 5, with Rodrigues at 18-6 and Ferreira at 15-2 for his or her careers. It’s a roughly even matchup on paper, however the bookies don’t see it that means. Rodrigues, as the higher ranked and extra skilled, is the favourite with 1.51, whereas his countryman will get 2.60.
Rob Font and Raul Rosas Jr. combat subsequent within the bantamweight division. Font is a rank 13 fighter, whereas Rosas Jr. is unranked. Each are Individuals, with the previous being a way more skilled and far older fighter. At 38 years previous, Font has a 22-9 profession document with 2-3 in his final 5. At solely 21 years of age, Rosas Jr. is at 11-1 and 4-1 in his final 5. There isn’t a shock that the youthful fighter is the favourite with 1.55 odds versus 2.47 of his older rival.
The penultimate combat of the evening is one other middleweight bout between rank 7 Caio Borralho from Brazil and rank 8 Reinier de Ridder from the Netherlands. Each are 4-1 of their final 5, however the Dutch is extra skilled with a 21-3 profession document versus 17-2 by the Brazilian. As for the chances, Borralho is a heavy favourite with 1.37, as de Ridder has solely 3.10, the largest distinction of the occasion.
Lastly, within the headline occasion of the evening and the titular combat, two legends of the game go head to head. Rank 4 Max Holloway is 4-1 in his final 5 and has a 27-8 profession document, whereas rank 3 Charles Oliveira is 3-2 in his earlier 5 and has a 36-11 profession document. The sportsbooks and specialists see Max because the clear favourite, giving him 1.52 odds to take this combat, whereas Charles is the underdog with 2.55 odds. Two years youthful, a bit taller, and with a a lot shorter attain, it appears Holloway will maintain his BMF title, which he gained in 2024.
Max Holloway Trivia and Information
Max Holloway was born and raised in Waianae, Hawaii, and is of Native Hawaiian and Samoan descent. This has made him a proud consultant of Hawaiian tradition within the UFC.
He made his UFC debut in 2012 at simply 20 years previous and have become one of many youngest fighters ever to signal with the promotion on the time.
Holloway is a former UFC Featherweight Champion. He gained the undisputed title in 2017 by defeating José Aldo by way of TKO of their rematch at UFC 212.
He holds the UFC document for probably the most important strikes landed in a single combat, touchdown 445 in opposition to Calvin Kattar at UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar.
Holloway additionally holds the UFC document for most important strikes landed in firm historical past, showcasing his excessive quantity boxing model.
He as soon as famously advised commentator Joe Rogan mid combat that he was “the very best boxer within the UFC,” moments earlier than slipping punches and persevering with to land clear pictures in opposition to Brian Ortega.
Regardless of being identified for his placing, Holloway started coaching in kickboxing as an adolescent and didn’t begin with a wrestling base. That is unusual amongst elite MMA fighters.
He headlined a number of pay per view occasions and have become some of the energetic champions in current UFC historical past. He’s identified to step in on brief discover for large fights.
Holloway moved as much as light-weight in 2019 to problem Dustin Poirier for the interim UFC Light-weight Championship. The transfer marked a excessive profile return to the division the place he had beforehand competed early in his profession.
His nickname “Blessed” displays each his optimistic mindset and the religion centered angle he often expresses in interviews and on social media.
Charles Oliveira Trivia and Information
Charles Oliveira was born in Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil, and grew up in poverty. He later credited Brazilian jiu jitsu with serving to change the course of his life.
As a baby, Oliveira was identified with a coronary heart murmur and rheumatic fever. Docs initially advised his household he would possibly by no means play sports activities, but he ultimately grew to become a world champion in MMA.
He holds the document for probably the most submission wins in UFC historical past, a stat that showcases his elite Brazilian jiu jitsu abilities contained in the Octagon.
Oliveira additionally holds the UFC document for many finishes and is without doubt one of the most harmful and aggressive fighters the promotion has ever seen.
He grew to become the UFC Light-weight Champion in 2021 by defeating Michael Chandler by way of TKO at UFC 262.
Oliveira defended his light-weight title in opposition to Dustin Poirier by submitting him within the third spherical at UFC 269.
He’s identified by the nickname “Do Bronx,” a reference to the favelas of Brazil that proudly represents his roots each time he fights.
Oliveira competed within the UFC featherweight division earlier in his profession earlier than transferring as much as light-weight, the place he went on a historic win streak that led to his title run.
In 2022, he misplaced his title on the dimensions after lacking weight by half a pound earlier than dealing with Justin Gaethje at UFC 274. He nonetheless gained the combat by first spherical submission.
Oliveira has earned quite a few Efficiency of the Evening and Struggle of the Evening bonuses all through his profession, a present of his excessive threat, motion packed preventing model.
