Heading into the matchup, a lingering narrative has followed Oliveira since his knockout loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 317 in June 2025. UFC legend Frankie Edgar and other pundits have questioned whether the former lightweight champion still has the same hunger that once drove him to title glory.
In an interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn ahead of his UFC 326, “Do Bronxs” reflected on his comeback submission win over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Rio last October.
Oliveira insisted the performance was meant to answer his critics, proving he is still at the top of his game and carries the same fire that fueled his earlier success.
“I sent a message to the division and to everyone: The lion is still hungry. That’s real. I’m ready for whatever comes. I’m ready. There are still a lot of things to happen. I’m still going to become champion again… Everything is 100%. I’m happy. I’m just living for the day.”
The 36-year-old Sao Paulo native heads into the fight with a 36–11 record, holding the UFC records for most submission wins and post-fight bonuses. He has gone 3–3 in his last six outings but believes his career momentum is still moving forward.
The BMF clash with Holloway is also a rematch. The two first met at UFC Saskatoon in August 2015, when “Blessed” scored a TKO at 1:39 of the opening round after Oliveira was unable to continue following a collapse. Reports later suggested the issue was a torn esophagus.
Charles Oliveira holds more post-fight bonuses than any fighter in UFC history — and the promotion just doubled them. His reaction was as relaxed as you’d expect from a man who has made a career of letting his performances do the talking.
During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn ahead of his BMF title fight against Max Holloway at UFC 326, “Do Bronxs” was asked how he feels about the MMA promotion’s new bonus structure, which raised performance bonuses from $50,000 to $100,000 and added a $25,000 incentive for finishes.
“I’m happy — but I don’t think about the bonus. The bonus looks for me, I don’t look for the bonus. The bonus is chasing me.”
Charles Oliveira’s Record Speaks For Itself
Charles Oliveira’s bonus total is the product of a career defined by spectacular finishes. The 36-year-old Brazilian also holds the UFC record for most submission victories (17) and has consistently delivered the kind of performances that earn Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night recognition.
The former UFC lightweight champion owns the promotion’s all-time record for post-fight bonuses with 21, earning more than $1 million in extra payouts, including 14 Performance of the Night, four Fight of the Night, and three Submission of the Night honors.
UFC 326 on March 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, will be Oliveira’s first fight under the revamped bonus system, a format that could reward his action-heavy style more than ever before.
Oliveira last competed at UFC Rio in October, securing a commanding second-round submission victory over Mateusz Gamrot. He now owns a 36-11 professional record, highlighted by 22 submission wins and 10 knockouts.
“Do Bronxs” faces BMF titleholder Max Holloway in the UFC 326 main event. The upcoming event is also being simulcast on CBS in prime time. A win would make Oliveira the fourth fighter ever to hold the BMF title.
🧨 No te puedes perder uno de los mejores eventos del año #UFC326 🛑
Nate Diaz believes Max Holloway (27-8) will successfully defend his BMF title against Charles Oliveira (36-11) at UFC 326, setting up a potential return to the promotion in June.
Holloway is set to put his BMF title on the line against Oliveira on March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in the main event of UFC 326, where he aims to be the first fighter to successfully defend the ceremonial UFC belt.
El cinturón BMF está en juego nuevamente!!! #UFC326
Nate Diaz Claims He’ll “Slap” Max Holloway on UFC White House Card
Nate Diaz last fought in the UFC in 2022, choking out Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. Since then, he has fought Jake Paul and rematched with Jorge Masvidal in the boxing ring.
Despite his success outside the UFC, Diaz has expressed interest in returning at the UFC White House event this June. He also claimed he started a whole division with his initial BMF title fight in 2019.
“I like Max (in that fight),” Diaz told ClockedNload. “Yeah [I like Max in that fight]. I’ll slap the sh*t out of him, though. That was rude what I just said, but I’ll f*ck him up. Yeah, the White House [event] would be perfect.”
“I’ll slap the sh*t out of Max Holloway… White House would be perfect.”
Dana White Left The Door Open For Nate Diaz’s UFC Return
Throughout his UFC career, Nate Diaz and Dana White didn’t always see eye to eye, with the UFC CEO often joking about the difficulty of dealing with the Diaz brothers.
— MMA History Today (@MMAHistoryToday) June 5, 2016
However, White indicated that the door is open for Diaz to return to the promotion.
“This will always be Nate’s house. Nate grew up here… He fought some of the biggest fights ever here. We love the kid. I don’t know about fighting in the future, but this will always be his house. We’ll see,” White said at the DWCS 57 post-fight press conference.
Charles Oliveira’s “Born BMF” documentary on his YouTube channel, do Bronxs TV, reveals the medical prognosis that could have ended his athletic career before it even began.
In Episode 1 of “Road to UFC 326,” the former UFC lightweight champion opens up about a childhood diagnosis that, by any reasonable measure, should have kept him from ever stepping inside a cage.
“The doctors said I couldn’t even play soccer, so definitely from that point I already saw a BMF,” Oliveira said. “The doctors said I couldn’t even play a game of soccer. So definitely from there I already saw a BMF.” For a Brazilian kid, being told he couldn’t play soccer meant being denied the most basic rite of childhood. Oliveira saw something else in that moment: the first glimpse of the toughness that would define his career.
The Kid Who Couldn’t Run
Charles Oliveira reflected on what those limitations meant for a child who simply wanted to move like other kids. “You can imagine, I was just a kid and I wanted to run, play…” he said.
The medical condition that barred him from basic physical activity makes his rise to elite-level MMA, featuring submission records, title runs, and now a UFC 326 main event against Max Holloway for the BMF title, all the more remarkable.
Where That Defiance Shows Up Today
The documentary captures how that refusal to accept limits manifests in his training camp. During a physical preparation session, the squad trades challenges without coddling. “Everyone does their own weight. If you’re more of a man than us, that’s fine,” one teammate says. Another adds: “We’re men here, bro.” The exchange continues: “Come on, squad. Don’t be shocked, uncle. We won’t even be able to trade punches and get him after. Better leave it alone.”
After training, everyone chips in, including Oliveira. “Good job, everyone. Just spray some alcohol on the mat, wipe it down, put away the weights, the bar, and the boxes, then we’ll take a photo and head out,” he instructs. The same athlete once told he would never be able to play soccer now leads a camp where no one is given special treatment.
From Medical Impossibility To March 7
The “Born BMF” series frames toughness as something forged in survival, not just competition. Oliveira’s story embodies that thesis: a prognosis that should have ended his athletic dreams became the origin of a mentality that carried him to the top of the UFC—and now to a shot at the BMF title against former rival Holloway on March 7, inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
El cinturón BMF está en juego nuevamente!!! #UFC326
Charles Oliveira recently offered a stark definition of the BMF concept in the first episode of the “Born BMF” series on his YouTube channel, Do Bronxs TV.
“Do Bronx” is set to challenge reigning BMF titleholder Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 326 on March 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
El cinturón BMF está en juego nuevamente!!! #UFC326
While most fans associate the “Baddest Motherf**ker” title with cage dominance, Oliveira argues it’s forged long before a fighter ever steps into the Octagon—by surviving impossible odds from the very beginning.
“I was born a BMF. That’s real,” Oliveira declared in the opening moments of the documentary.
Redefining BMF — Born, Not Made
The series explores whether BMF status is earned in competition or forged through adversity. Charles Oliveira’s story makes the case for the latter: doctors told him as a child he couldn’t even play soccer, yet he became one of the UFC’s most accomplished fighters.
“I told my parents, I told my father—truthfully, I would rather die than not be a normal kid. So that’s where my story began,” Oliveira said. That willingness to risk everything to live a normal life, he suggests, is where true toughness is born.
The Spiritual Warrior Mindset
Charles Oliveira’s self-perception is deeply rooted in faith. “Truthfully, I’m a guy illuminated by God,” he said. “I truly believe that God chose me to make history.”
The former UFC lightweight champion’s philosophy on predestination shapes his approach to obstacles. “I truly believe that when you’re born, from when you’re small, God already put you on a path. It doesn’t matter which way you take, you’re going to end up on that line anyway. It was meant for me to do this. It was meant for me to make history.”
Hungry, Humble, and Real — The Triple Threat
Charles described himself as a three-dimensional person: “I’m a hungry guy, a family guy, a real guy, a guy who seeks the fight or seeks victory all the time. Whether I’m in the cage or outside the cage.”
He emphasized integrity alongside ambition. “The desire to make history, to always be at the highest level in the world, but most importantly, without stepping on anyone.”
The Octagon, he said, strips away all artifice. “The Octagon tells the truth about who I really am. I don’t hide anything.”
The Visible Hunger — What Opponents See
Charles Oliveira’s intensity isn’t hidden. “Anyone who watches me fight already sees in my eyes the hunger, the thirst. The desire to become champion,” he said.
That drive extends beyond fight night. “Everything in life. I only want to walk forward. I don’t want to look back.”
Evolution Through Adversity
“Do Bronx” reflected on his transformation from a grappling specialist to a complete fighter. “Back then, I was just Charles from jiu-jitsu; now I’m a complete MMA Charlie. Back then, I was just a boy. Now, today, I’m a lion among lions.”
The 36-year-old Brazilian also revealed he competed injured in his last bout against Mateusz Gamrot this past October. “From that last fight to this one, I’ve evolved tremendously. In that fight, I entered with an injury.”
Oliveira first fought Holloway at featherweight in August 2015, but the bout came to an early and unusual end. Just 1:39 into the opening round, the Brazilian appeared to suffer a neck injury while attempting a takedown.
The sudden setback, which was reported as an esophagus-related issue, forced Oliveira to collapse and indicate that he was unable to continue.
UFC 318 took place tonight from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!
In the main event, lightweights Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier faced off for the BMF title. While in the co-main event, Paulo Costa took on Roman Kopylov in a middleweight matchup.
UFC 318 Results: Main Card
Lightweight: BMF Championship: Max Holloway def. Dustin Poirier via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46×2)
Middleweight: Paulo Costa def. Roman Kopylov via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
Welterweight: Daniel Rodriguez def. Kevin Holland via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Featherweight: Patricio Pitbull def. Dan Ige via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Lightweight: Michael Johnson def. Daniel Zellhuber via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Preliminary Card
Bantamweight: Vinicius Oliveira def. Kyler Phillips via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Middleweight: Brendan Allen def. Marvin Vettori via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
Welterweight: Nikolay Veretennikov def. Francisco Prado via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
Middleweight: Ateba Abega Gautier def. Robert Valentin via TKO: R1, 1.10
Early Preliminary Card
Welterweight: Islam Dulatov def. Adam Fugitt via KO: R1, 4.06
Light Heavyweight: Jimmy Crute def. Marcin Prachnio via submission: R1, 4.42
Heavyweight: Ryan Spann def. Łukasz Brzeski via submission: R1, 2.41
Middleweight: Brunno Ferreira def. Jackson McVey via submission: R1, 3.35
When the BMF title was first created by the UFC in 2019, there were various split opinions about the championship. Some called it genius, some called it a gimmick. But it seemed that such a belt was a one-and-done matter.
But since then, there have been two other BMF title fights in the UFC and two more BMF champions — all within the last two years. And the title will be on the line again come this Saturday at UFC 318, when Dustin Poirier challenges BMF titleholder Max Holloway in the retirement fight for “The Diamond.”
This has led to a lot of speculation and debate about the legitimacy of such a title (from the perspective of it being a sanctioned championship) — and if it’s worth the time and money of both the UFC and its fans.
MMA analyst and personality Luke Thomas sat down with Submission Radio recently and shared his thoughts about the belt. In spite of some feeling that the BMF title would be retired alongside Poirier should he win, Thomas suggests that this won’t be the last we see of such a strap.
In fact, Thomas goes as far as to say with the UFC’s event schedule, they need such a thing.
“No, they need it. UFC needs it,” Thomas said. “They need another belt in rotation just to put at the top of this of these pay-per-views. They can’t maintain, again, I’m gonna say it again, they can’t maintain their pay-per-view schedule.
Luke Thomas: UFC Event Schedule, Dependency On Title Fights For PPVs Is At Fault For Continued Use Of BMF Title
The BMF title was first created for the UFC 244 clash between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal. Masvidal won the championship with a third-round doctor’s stoppage TKO, giving him the belt, which was strapped around him by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
In July 2023, to the surprise of plenty, the BMF belt was brought back in a fight involving Poirier, as he and Justin Gaethje fought for the title in the main event of UFC 291. Gaethje won the bout with a devastating head-kick knockout.
Gaethje would then face Holloway with the title on the line at UFC 300, with Holloway winning the fight with his legendary last-second knockout of Gaethje.
The BMF title, however, was not on the line when Holloway fought and lost to Ilia Topuria in UFC 308’s featherweight title main event.
While Thomas admitted to Submission Radio that such a situation is “wishy-washy,” it’s not going to take away from the UFC’s decision to continue to use the championship. He cited the UFC’s need in this modern era for a championship to be on the line in the main event of almost every UFC pay-per-view — compared to when the UFC could promote a pay-per-view with a non-title main event (and one not featuring Conor McGregor for that matter) in previous years.
“You might say, ‘Hey, I don’t need a belt on the top of every card.’ But the UFC doesn’t believe that,” Thomas said. “They believe that they have to have one. They don’t have enough of them in rotation at any given time to be able to just like, ‘Oh, we don’t need the BMF belt.’
“Like, it was once a joke and now they’re like, ‘You know what? We could actually kind of use this thing.’ It’s not the first time that it’s been featured in a headlining bout on a UFC pay-per-view. Like, they need it.”
UFC 318 takes place this Saturday, July 19, from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the third meeting between Holloway and Poirier, with Poirier winning both of the previous outings.
Gilbert Burns believes Charles Oliveira’s days as a UFC title contender are behind him.
At UFC 317 last month, “Do Bronx” endured a devastating first-round knockout at the hands of Ilia Topuria in their clash for the vacant lightweight title. The loss marked Oliveira’s second unsuccessful bid to reclaim the belt.
Charles Oliveira, who once tore through the division with an 11-fight win streak and a successful title defense, has struggled to maintain that form. He’s gone 2-3 in his last five outings. Burns believes his fellow Brazilian should take a step back, recharge, and set his sights on the UFC’s symbolic BMF title instead of chasing championship gold.
Image: @charlesdobronxs/Instagram
Gilbert Burns Calls For Charles Oliveira vs. Max Holloway Rematch
During a recent episode of the Show Me the Money podcast, Gilbert Burns offered his take on Charles Oliveira’s career tarjectory. The former welterweight title challenger believes “Do Bronx” should set his sights on a high-stakes showdown with Max Holloway — regardless of whether Holloway retains the BMF title in his upcoming trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier, which headlines UFC 318 on July 19.
“Charles, I think he’s got to take six months off, Burns said.” One thousand percent, call Sean Shelby and tell him that I told him that he’s got to fight Max Holloway. After Max Holloway’s fight with Dustin, Dustin is out, Dustin’s retired. Max, rest a little bit because next month, this guy is fighting in December, January. Make it BMF for Charles.”
“Durinho” suggested that both Oliveira and Holloway are likely entering the twilight of their storied careers, making now the ideal moment for the UFC to book a rematch between the fan favorites with the BMF title on the line to raise the stakes.
“I think Charles [beats Holloway]. I like this fight, two legends. I don’t think they’re going to make another run for a title, but make it for BMF, it’s a good fight.”
Oliveira and Holloway previously shared the Octagon back in August 2015, during their time in the featherweight division. The bout ended abruptly in the first round after the Brazilian suffered a rare esophagus injury, handing “Blessed” the win via TKO.
Former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has committed to one final night in the cage before hanging up his gloves, and he’s got a unique idea in mind for his farewell.
Poirier initially appeared set to call time on is career following a failed title bid opposite Islam Makhachev this past June. But while his immediate comments post-submission loss at UFC 302 leaned that way, he was quick to tease a return.
During a recent interview on SiriusXM’s MMA Today show with Din Thomas and Alan Jouban, Poirier suggested a four-man tournament comprised of three former opponents of his, Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, and Dan Hooker.
The Grand Prix-style bracket would involve BMF stakes, with Hooker being the only one of the four yet to compete with the symbolic title on the line in the UFC.
“That excites me,” Poirier said. “Because that kind of stuff is for the dogs. That’s like old Pride days or Grand Prix. That’s a real ‘BMF.’ If you can fight a tournament in one night, multiple opponents, that’s the definition of ‘BMF.’
“That would be it,” Poirier continued. “If they put that together and it was a one-night tournament, that would be it (retirement).”
And “The Hangman,” for one, seems to be in…
Hooker Co-Signs Poirier’s BMF Tournament
Following Poirier’s remarks, which also got somewhat of a green light from UFC CEO Dana White following his latest post-Contender Series press conference, Hooker was quick to give his take on the idea.
Never one to shy away from the possibility of violence inside the Octagon, Hooker is unsurprisingly up for the same-night format.
While not officially up for grabs in the UFC 308 main event, Ilia Topuria still believes Max Holloway’s BMF status is at risk of disappearing.
As has been the case for the past two calendar years, lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev was being lined up to headline the promotion’s annual pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi in October.
The pair will do battle for the Georgian-Spaniard’s gold, which he won at the expense of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 this past February. “Blessed,” meanwhile, garnered support for his latest chance to regain the belt by capturing the symbolic BMF strap with an emphatic last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.
Putting this matchup together hasn’t appeared to be easy, with both men accusing the other of delaying a booking. On Topuria’s part, he originally suggested that he’d only share the cage with Holloway if the Hawaiian’s BMF belt was also put on the line.
That wish hasn’t been granted, but “El Matador” claims not to be bothered…
Topuria On lack Of BMF Stakes At UFC 308: ‘I’m Just Concentrating On My Title Defense’
During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Topuria looked ahead to his first defense of the featherweight gold this fall.
“The BMF title is not going to be on the line,” Topuria said. “To be honest, I don’t care. They took that decision and, at the end of the day, it’s like, when I’m going to beat him, he can’t say he’s a BMF or however they want to call him. I’m just concentrating on my title defense and that’s it. I don’t care about anything else.”
Topuria will have the chance to make good on his confident pre-fight predictions in close to two months’ time, when his newly started divisional rule meets about as tough a test possible from its first challenger.
Manager to the stars, Ali Abdelaziz, is tired of hearing people talk about fighting for the BMF title.
The BMF title was a specially crafted belt designed for and awarded to the winner of the fight between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. Ultimately, it would be Masvidal who was awarded the novelty belt, with none other than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson putting it around his waist after their UFC 244 main event was stopped by the doctor.
Since then, and despite the fact that Dana White has made it clear that this was a one-off situation, there have been countless fighters calling for their crack at the BMF title. Everyone ranging from Leon Edwards toColby Covington and more has asked for their own opportunity to fight for it.
One of the more recent people to call for the BMF title was Covington, who spoke in an interview about wanting to see it up for grabs if he is to fight Jorge Masvidal, like both men and many others want.
“Put that fuckin’ wack-ass BMF belt back on the fuckin’ line. Everybody knows who the real baddest motherfucker in this sport is. It’s Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington. Bring that fuckin’ belt out and lets fuckin’ do this shit: do The Ultimate Fighter whatever, tape for four weeks, six weeks, eight weeks, and run this fight in Miami. It makes sense,” Covington said.
“Let’s go to American Airlines Arena. We could sell out that arena in seconds. And if we don’t go to American Airlines, we can go right up the street to BB&T Center, which is 30 minutes up the street. I’ll beat his ass in both arenas. We’ll go beat BB&T Center, go up to Broward County; then, go down to Miami-Dade County and beat his ass in American Airlines Arena. Fuckin’ little bitch Jorge.”
Stop Asking For A BMF Belt, Says Abdelaziz
One person who is tired of hearing talks of a BMF title is one of the biggest managers in MMA, Ali Abdelaziz. In fact, he issued something of a response to the people who are asking for it, but seemingly Colby Covington in particular.
Posting to Twitter, Abdelaziz explained that his client, welterweight champ Kamaru Usman, is the lineal BMF champ after knocking out Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261. Therefore, he demands that nobody else asks to fight for this title, as it is no longer relevant.
Please stop talking about this BMF belt @USMAN84kg won that belt and he throw it in the garbage already Win some fights and try to win the undisputed UFC title. Good luck with that
“Please stop talking about this BMF belt @USMAN84kg won that belt and he throw it in the garbage already Win some fights and try to win the undisputed UFC title. Good luck with that,” Abdelaziz wrote.
The fact is the only time that Dana White even showed interest in bringing the BMF title back into circulation was in the event of a rematch between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. So even though Kamaru Usman might be the lineal titleholder, it is all just talk, as the actual belt does not appear to be going up for grabs anytime soon.
Do you still acknowledge the existence of the BMF title?
