Nearly ten years after their first encounter, Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway are once again in the conversation for a high-profile showdown. While their initial bout was cut short due to injury, both fighters have since built impressive resumes, with Holloway capturing the BMF title and Oliveira remaining an elite lightweight. As Oliveira prepares for his upcoming fight, he’s looking ahead to what could be an electrifying rematch in the near future.
Max Holloway sparked plenty of excitement after he held onto his BMF belt with a thrilling win over Dustin Poirier at UFC 318. Once the dust settled, Holloway didn’t shy away from the idea of facing Charles Oliveira next, referencing their memorable first showdown. A bout that ended with Oliveira leaving due to a painful esophagus injury. Holloway threw some playful shade about the details, while Oliveira shrugged it off, confident that his hospital stay was the real deal and chalked up the chatter to friendly banter that comes with top-level competition.
Memories That Still Spark Debate
Their first meeting, almost ten years ago, still gets fans talking. Holloway took home the win after Oliveira was sidelined by injury, which left both fighters trading light-hearted jabs and hints about a possible rematch for years.
Oliveira, reflecting on those old memories, summed it up nicely:
Everybody knows I was injured. I spent two days in the hospital, why would I do that for nothing? That’s just part of the game. He’s a great fighter. He’s the BMF champ. So why not make it happen later on?
Holloway responded to Oliveira’s comments by saying:
The ball is in the UFC’s court, we’ll see what they want to do. If they want to go that way, we can go that way…there’s also Oliveira, I heard he was yapping saying our first fight was with injuries. He had an injury when we fought. But last time I check, when they did a follow up and wanted to find what the injury was, there was no injury report on it.
Oliveira’s Focus on UFC Fight Night 261
For now, Charles Oliveira’s attention is firmly set on his next fight, where he’ll headline against Rafael Fiziev at UFC Fight Night 261 on October 11 in Rio de Janeiro. Oliveira’s goal is to remind everyone just how electric he can be as he goes to work in front of fans at home. Of course, the possible BMF clash with Holloway is always in the back of his mind and it seems Holloway, too, is keeping the door open for that blockbuster matchup.
What’s Next for the BMF Belt?
The timing isn’t quite right just yet, with Holloway nursing a hand injury from UFC 318 and expected to be out until 2026. But the anticipation never fades. Oliveira is happy to campaign for the fight, and Holloway’s made it clear: “If the UFC wants to make it happen, I’m ready.”
With both superstars bringing thrills and a loyal following, a future BMF title fight promises plenty of action whenever it lands.
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