Charles Oliveira, recognized as one of the most seasoned competitors in UFC history, has an upcoming rematch with Max Holloway, and a former adversary of his has offered commentary on the bout. As Oliveira prepares to vie for Holloway’s BMF title, Clay Guida shared his thoughts on the UFC 326 main event, stating [through Bowks Talking Bouts],
“Honestly, we’re discussing two of my absolute favorite individuals to have ever competed inside the octagon. These are two individuals who, if encountered casually on the street without any prior knowledge of sports or mixed martial arts, one would likely not suspect them of being current or former world champions. They are among the most powerful and formidable competitors the UFC has ever seen. I consider them absolute locks for immediate induction into the Hall of Fame.”
“They deserve to be inducted on the very first ballot, the moment they announce their retirement, without delay. Indeed, as I mentioned, they possess a rather unassuming presence; they don’t outwardly appear like typical fighters. However, once they step into competition, they embody every quality one desires in a champion, in a fighter—someone who proudly represents their nation and the sport with immense distinction.”
“My excitement for this event is immense. That fight promises to be an absolute spectacle of relentless action. We have two exceptionally talented athletes whose careers have shown no signs of decline; instead, they have only continued to evolve and improve, which is truly remarkable. I recall a period when Oliveira was alternating between the featherweight (145 lbs) and lightweight (155 lbs) divisions, being among the youngest at the time. I believe he might have held the distinction of being the youngest UFC fighter at one point, many years ago.”
According to ‘The Carpenter,’ Charles Oliveira’s victory over Clay Guida marked the start of his legendary career streak.
As Guida elaborated further on ‘do Bronx’ Oliveira before then sharing his perspective on ‘Blessed’ Holloway, he continued [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“I believe he joined the UFC when he was around 18, 19, or 20 years old. He arrived with considerable buzz, and then some critics began to express doubts. However, he then regained his momentum in the 155-pound division, and yes, regrettably, he defeated me approximately five miles from here in Chicago, at the arena Michael Jordan made famous. I competed against him at the United Center before a local audience, and it’s fair to say the outcome was not favorable; it didn’t unfold as planned.”
“Nevertheless, that bout represented the genesis of his remarkable journey, initiating what I consider one of the most extraordinary runs in the lightweight division, or indeed, in UFC history. I recall he achieved perhaps eight or ten consecutive victories during that period, leading to him acquiring and successfully defending the title for a significant duration. He is truly phenomenal. The man consistently improves, dispatching elite-level athletes. Max Holloway, conversely, consistently impresses me rather than surprising me.”
“He perpetually astonishes me with every single performance. It’s truly extraordinary. The man, I mean, he conquers wrestlers, he defeats jiu-jitsu specialists, he overcomes strikers, he beats boxers, and he does so decisively. He quite literally extinguishes their will to fight. He compels them to surrender inside the cage. He gestures towards his opponent, points to the canvas, raises his hands, and then he delivers on his promise. He is pure entertainment.”
“Outwardly, the man appears incapable of harming even a fly, if you understand what I mean. Yet, once he steps in there, that individual is all business. An absolute force of nature. Consequently, this contest possesses all the elements to be a definite ‘Fight of the Year’ or ‘Fight of the Night’ candidate. You get to witness two titans clashing for the BMF championship, and no one is more deserving than these two. So yes, as you can discern, I’m quite enthusiastic about this pairing.”
