Should Charles Oliveira express a desire to compete for the BMF title, Max Holloway might be prepared to accept the challenge.
Holloway, the individual presently recognized as the UFC’s BMF titleholder, promptly addressed Oliveira following the latter’s impressive triumph on Saturday at UFC Rio. Soon after Oliveira defeated Mateusz Gamrot with a second-round submission and directly challenged Holloway, the former UFC featherweight champion went live on the streaming platform Kick and agreed to Oliveira’s proposal.
“I’m definitely interested,” Holloway stated. “Why wouldn’t I consider it?
“We’ve been in discussions about this particular matchup. He and I share a history. He attributes the previous outcome to a certain physical issue. It appears we now have the chance to resolve it.”
Holloway, aged 33, and Oliveira, aged 35, notably clashed over a decade prior at a UFC Fight Night event in August 2015, during a period when both were considered emerging contenders aspiring to ascend the featherweight division rankings. Holloway secured victory in that contest in a mere 99 seconds after Oliveira appeared to suffer an injury. Holloway claimed the UFC interim featherweight title the following year and subsequently earned the undisputed championship in 2017, successfully defending the title three times before losing it in 2019.
Oliveira eventually transitioned to the lightweight division, establishing himself as one of the most highly regarded 155-pound competitors of his era, capturing the title in 2021 and overcoming a series of prominent opponents.
Oliveira (36-11, 1 NC) reaffirmed his position as a leading lightweight contender this past Saturday at UFC Rio, dominating his late-replacement opponent Gamrot, culminating in a face crank submission just 105 days following a defeat in his match against Ilia Topuria for the vacant UFC lightweight title. Subsequently, Oliveira utilized his post-fight interview to advocate for a rematch with Holloway.
“Hey [UFC executive] Hunter [Campbell], Charles Oliveira versus Max Holloway, BMF — let’s make that a reality,” Oliveira proclaimed.
Holloway (27-8) revealed on Saturday evening that he is currently recovering from a hand injury and awaiting medical clearance. He indicated that he is currently focused on strength and conditioning exercises and remains uncertain about a potential timeframe for his return, though a March 2026 comeback could be “very likely.”
Holloway also expressed some hesitation regarding the idea of waiting for the UFC’s event at the White House in June 2026, as that would sideline him for almost a year — although he acknowledged that he would be open to the prospect if the UFC provided adequate compensation for the delay.
“Could you visualize that?” Holloway inquired regarding the possibility of fighting Oliveira at the White House.
“I’m unsure if I desire to wait for that duration, but we’ll observe the unfolding events. We shall see what comes to pass. It’s important to never dismiss any possibilities.”
