The BMF title was on the line as the Octagon returned to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for another major UFC numbered event.
On the night, Charles Oliveira dethroned Max Holloway as UFC’s BMF champion, while a number of fringe contenders claimed major victories for their respective careers.
Here are our power rankings for the main card winners of UFC 326 in Las Vegas.
UFC 326 power rankings
1. Drew Dober
In terms of a pure “wow” moment, Drew Dober’s flatlining of fellow lightweight vet Michael Johnson topped the list of standout performances on Saturday night’s main card.
He may not be in a position to challenge for championship gold, but Dober is guaranteed to bring action and excitement in front of the Octagon every time he competes. From his strike, to Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It,” to his action-packed fighting style, Dober is must-see TV every time he fights.
He wins some, he loses some. But when he wins, they’re generally highlights, and that’s exactly what he delivered on Saturday when he put Johnson ahead with a colossal shot to claim his 11th UFC knockout and extend his record as the man with the most UFC knockouts in the 155-pound division. It also earned him a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
2.Gregory Rodrigues
“Robocop” was on a revenge mission at UFC 326 and he got what he came for.
Rodrigues was stunned in the first round by a debuting Brunno Ferreira when they first met at UFC 283 in January 2023. But since then, Rodrigues has been on a stellar run that was only partially slowed by a loss to former title challenger Jared Cannonier.
But when he got the chance to exorcise his demons and avenge his loss to Ferreira at UFC 326, he jumped at the chance, which, with a string of MMA gloves on, are among the most dangerous in the world at 185 pounds.
He made good use of his devastating knockout power to flatten Ferreira in less than half the time it took him to beat Rodrigues in their first meeting, while “Robocop” put things right with a stunning finish that saw him collect a whopping $100,000 as one of the Performances of the Night.
3. Charles Oliveira
Normally when you win a title you would expect that performance to top everything on a power rankings, but on this occasion we have Charles Oliveira in third. That doesn’t put a damper on his victory, or on the BMF title, which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. It’s more about the way Oliveira won the title.
Tactically, the Brazilian couldn’t have been smarter. He leaned into his wrestling in a way that few, including Max Holloway, expected, and when he realized the skill gap on the mat was as apparent as it was, he simply rinsed and repeated as he claimed a shutout victory on the scorecards.
Was it ruthlessly effective? Most definitely. Was this the kind of performance you would want to see in a BMF title fight? Probably not. World titles must be won by any means necessary – they are the pinnacle of the sport. But for the BMF belt, where there is an implicit expectation of an action fight, there just wasn’t the action that many were hoping for.
Oliveira is still elite, and more big fights are sure to come his way. But rightly or wrongly, it felt a bit like we were being denied a classic at that performance and just being given another fight.
4. Caio Borralho
When Caio Borralho faced Reinier de Ridder in the co-main event, it was a must-win for both men. A win would send the winner back into title contention, while a loss would send the other into gatekeeper status at 185 pounds.
And as the action unfolded on Saturday evening, it was clear that Borralho was the man best placed to return to the championship as he put a shutout on the scorecards against a De Ridder who looked dangerous at times but looked demoralized at others.
Borralho’s unanimous decision win will put him back in the mix, and a clash with former champion Dricus Du Plessis could be a potential challenge for the Brazilian. As for De Ridder, after two somewhat lethargic showings at 185, a move to light heavyweight could be on the cards.
5. Raul Rosas Jr.
Who doesn’t love Raul Rosas Jr.? The youngster, who entered the UFC as a teenager, is loving life in the Octagon and showed he is emerging as a contender at 135 pounds.
Rosas took a big step forward in the competition on Saturday night when he took on long-time rival Rob Font at T-Mobile Arena, and he put in a stellar performance, winning every round on every scorecard for a shutout victory over the man from Massachusetts.
There’s more to come for Rosas – while he dominated on the ground, there was a lack of striking offense on the deck – but his forward progress has now propelled him into the top 15 bantamweight rankings. Every fight from here on out is a blast, and he will be tested like never before. But with his positive attitude and willingness to learn, there’s no reason why Rosas can’t gradually work his way up the rankings.
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