Outside Source
Oliveira (36-11, 1 NC) took on Mateusz Gamrot in the main event at UFC Fight Night 261 at the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday. “Do Bronxs” submitted Gamrot in the second round in front of a home crowd, handing the Polish fighter his first stoppage loss.
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After leaping in the crowd to celebrate with the adoring masses, Oliveira returned to the Octagon to rally for a BMF title fight against Holloway (27-8). This was not a new development, as ahead of UFC Rio, the Brazilian had suggested that rematch for the symbolic belt prior to his meeting with Gamrot. While he did mention he could also see himself fighting for an undisputed championship, a second encounter with Holloway was all he sought post-fight.
“Hey [UFC Chief Business Officer] Hunter [Campbell], Charles Oliveira vs. Max Holloway. BMF [title]. Let’s make it happen,” Oliveira declared on his post-fight interview with commentator Michael Bisping.
We Fight on My Terms
Holloway wasted no time in replying to Oliveira’s callout, and did not decline the opportunity. However, when discussing the fight result on his Kick stream on Saturday night, he made sure to note that he would be the one making the decision on where and when. “Blessed” also cried foul on Oliveira’s injury excuse in their first meeting, as the Brazilian claimed he sustained an esophagus spasm or rupture and could not continue. Once Holloway recovers from hurting his hand in his rubber match with Dustin Poirier, the Hawaiian is ready for all comers.
“We heard the callout,” the former featherweight king said on Kick. “This type of fight at the White House, it’s a long wait. I’m making no promises though. It would be a fun one… Me and him have a history. He’s blaming [the loss] on some type of injury. I guess we get to figure it out now… My hand is getting better, and we’re just waiting to get cleared. I haven’t really gotten back on the mats yet. I’ve been doing some strength and conditioning but that’s about it.”
He continued, with transcription provided by MMA Fighting, “No, I’m not f—ing going to Rio. Fight in Las Vegas or something. We fight on my terms. We fight on my terms, brother. We went to Rio, we did that with the ‘King of Rio’ [Jose Aldo]. Now it’s my turn to have a say.”
Holloway finished Oliveira in just over 90 seconds in their first outing, which took place in Saskatoon, Canada, in 2015. Both athletes have come a very long way since their headlining excursion at featherweight, each man claiming a belt and registering multiple defenses.
The Hawaiian’s latest triumph, his decision win over Poirier, saw him rebound from his first career knockout loss. Ilia Topuria knocked him clean out in the third round of their UFC 308 affair in 2024. Like Holloway, the Brazilian also bounced back from a championship stoppage loss against Topuria—this one at lightweight—by beating Gamrot.
To Oliveira’s credit, he heard what “Blessed” said about the bout and agreed to most of what Holloway suggested. During the UFC Rio post-fight presser, Oliveira thought that Holloway’s pitch of them meeting in March 2026 would be ideal.
“His terms are the same as the UFC,” Oliveira said, according to MMA Fighting. “It can be in his house. If it’s not in Brazil, it can be anywhere in the world. [March] is perfect, it’s a perfect fight. It would be awesome to see Hawaii.”
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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