Max Holloway spoiled Dustin Poirier’s farewell at UFC 318 earlier this year when he defeated his three-time rival by unanimous decision to defend his BMF title. Holloway won the BMF Championship by knocking out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 last year.
After UFC 318, Holloway revealed a significant hand injury that sidelined him from competition indefinitely. He initially teased a lengthy absence from fights as he tried to recover from UFC 318 and focus on healing his hand ailment.
As the UFC kicks off its broadcast partnership with Paramount+ in 2026, several big names will help kick off the action starting next month. Holloway figures to be a big part of these plans, as announced by the UFC on Friday.
Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira 2 will headline UFC 326 on March 7
UFC play-by-play broadcaster Jon Anik kicked off Friday season press conference by announcing that Holloway will face former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in the UFC 326 main event on March 7.
Holloway and Oliveira fought in the featherweight division earlier in their careers, with Holloway winning by TKO in the first round after Oliveira suffered an esophageal injury. In recent months, Oliveira has frustrated Holloway by making excuses for their first showdown, and he will try to prove that their first fight was a fluke.
Oliveira returns to the Octagon after defeating Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Rio earlier this year. He bounced back in a big way after a knockout loss to Ilia Topuria for the then-vacant lightweight title at UFC 317.
The latest 2026 UFC fight news previews what should be an eventful start to the year for the promotion. The UFC’s broadcast partnership with Paramount+ kicks off next month with a big event at UFC 324, featuring an interim title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett.
In addition to Gaethje vs. Pimblett, the UFC 324 co-main event marks the return of UFC Hall of Famer Amanda Nunes against women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison. Harrison and Nunes were previously teammates on American Top Team-Florida and are two of the greatest female fighters in MMA history.
The full UFC 326 card slate is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
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