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Charles Oliveira eliminated all drama from a long-awaited rematch that had the buying public brimming with anticipation.
The Chute Boxe superstar flashed his superiority in all phases, seized the symbolic BMF title and raised his Ultimate Fighting Championship profile to new heights with a one-sided unanimous decision over Max Holloway in the UFC 326 main event on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. All three judges scored it 50-45 for Oliveira (37-11, 25-11 UFC), who avenged his 2015 loss to the former featherweight champion and future hall of famer.
Holloway (27-9, 23-9 UFC) had no answers for the Brazilian grappling savant. Oliveira attacked with leg kicks and powerful right hands in standup exchanges but separated himself through takedowns, suffocating control and a relentless submission game. He struck for takedowns in all five rounds, advanced to Holloway’s back on several occasions and alternated between rear-naked chokes, face cranks and neck cranks, feeding him an unhealthy dose of elbows along the way. His game plan and execution were flawless. All Holloway could do was survive, and he somehow managed to do so for five rounds.
Meanwhile, Fighting Nerds linchpin Caio Borralho rode superior speed and athleticism to a unanimous decision over former two-division ONE Championship titleholder Reinier de Ridder in their three-round middleweight co-headliner. Borralho (18-2, 8-1 UFC) swept the scorecards with matching 30-27 marks from the assigned judiciary.
De Ridder (21-4, 4-2 UFC) put up serious resistance—his awkward power punches troubled the Brazilian in spurts—but failed to sustain meaningful offense. Borralho battered his legs with kicks, connected with thudding left hands over the top and surprised the Dutch grappler with a takedown in the third round. He briefly climbed to full mount, then transitioned to side control before the two men returned to their feet. There, Borralho once again zeroed in on his counterpart’s lower extremities with kicks.
The 33-year-old Borralho has won 15 of his last 16 fights.
Further down the main card, MMA Lab standout Raul Rosas Jr. passed his most significant test to date with a unanimous decision over ex-CES MMA champion Rob Font in their three-round bantamweight showcase. All three cageside judges turned in 30-27 scorecards for Rosas Jr. (12-1, 6-1 UFC).
Font (22-10, 12-9 UFC) could not stay upright. Rosas Jr. executed repeated takedowns, paired them with positional advances and racked up copious amounts of control time. He failed to exact much damage but kept himself out of harm’s way against the Massachusetts native. Font’s frustrations grew over time. Rosas Jr. never strayed from his approach and at times seemed to be on autopilot against one of the bantamweight division’s most respected veterans.
Rosas Jr., 21, has recorded five straight victories.
Elsewhere, Elevation Fight Team mainstay Drew Dober swept aside “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 finalist Michael Johnson with punches in the second round of their lightweight feature. Dober (29-15, 15-11 UFC) drew the curtain 1:53 into Round 2.
Johnson (24-20, 16-16 UFC) led the dance with a persistent jab, sharp low kicks and lightning-fast one-twos across the first five minutes. Dober made adjustments between rounds, upped his output and blasted the Kill Cliff Fight Club product with a vicious straight left. Johnson collapsed backward semi-conscious and supine, then ate one another standing-to-ground left from the Omaha, Nebraska, native before referee Kerry Hatley could arrive to rescue him.
The loss was Johnson’s first since May 20, 2023 and brought an end to his three-fight winning streak.
Finally, former Legacy Fighting Alliance champion Gregory Rodrigues punched out Brunno Ferreira in the first round of their middleweight rematch and evened his head-to-head series with his Brazilian compatriot. A replacement for Paulo Costa, Rodrigues (19-6, 10-3 UFC) closed it out 1:47 into Round 1.
Ferreira (15-3, 6-3 UFC)—who knocked out “Robocop” in their first meeting a little more than three years ago—stepped forward behind a few right hands and a leg kick. Rodrigues met him in the pocket and unleashed a hellacious right hook that stopped the Brazilian TKO rep in his tracks. No follow-up shots were necessary.
Rodrigues, 34, has won three fights in a row.
Continue Reading » UFC 326 Prelims: Rodolfo Bellato, Alberto Montes Score Finishes on Decision-Heavy Undercard
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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