Max Holloway Brings BMF Energy to UFC 326
By James Moreau | 06 Mar, 2026

After dominant wins over Gaethje and Poirier, the “Blessed” era moves to the lightweight division for a headlining rematch with Charles Oliveira.

Veteran UFC fighter Max Holloway is the Baddest Motherfucker in the game – and that’s not a self-proclaimed label.  He holds the official “BMF” belt, a sanctioned title created to honor the warrior who embodies the “anyone, anywhere” grit that defines the sport’s elite.

Holloway most recently defended this title at UFC 318 in July 2025, where he defeated Dustin Poirier in unanimous decision in their highly anticipated trilogy bout.  The win improved the Polynesian icon’s record to 27-8 and signaled his return to the lightweight division.

He first captured the BMF mantle in April 2024’s UFC 300, delivering an iconic moment by knocking out Justin Gaethje in the final second of the fifth round after calling for a center-octagon slugfest.

The former featherweight champion has tallied up 12 post-fight bonuses, including seven Fight of the Night and five Performance of the Night honors.  Known for his relentless high-volume striking style, Holloway holds UFC records for total and most significant strikes – no other fighter is within 1,000 of either mark.

Now 34, the Hawaiian made his professional fighting debut at just 18. 

Holloway has built an engaging social media presence with over 7 million followers across platforms.  His YouTube channel offers fans an inside look at his life and the rigorous training camps leading up to his world-class matchups.

A headlining BMF title defense awaits at UFC 326 on Saturday, March 7th, in a high-stakes rematch against former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.  The bout is a significant rematch of their 2015 encounter, which ended prematurely due to an esophageal injury to Oliveira.

Holloway’s path to victory lies in overcoming a 5-inch reach disadvantage by managing distance and utilizing his elite footwork to create striking opportunities.  While he is currently ranked number 4 in the lightweight division, just behind Oliveira, oddsmakers favor the Hawaiian.

A victory in this compelling rematch would not only defend his BMF status but could officially cement Max Holloway as a first-ballot UFC Hall of Famer.