Max Holloway won’t draw back from Charles Oliveira’s wheelhouse.
The pair are set to collide within the foremost event of UFC 326, which takes place on the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 7.
Oliveira will challenge Holloway for the BMF title, as he looks to hitch ‘Blessed’, Justin Gaethje, and Jorge Masvidal on the list of stars who’ve held the symbolic belt since its 2019 creation.
With the intention to emerge victorious, many think Holloway must avoid being taken to the bottom on fight night. However the BMF himself has rejected that striker vs. grappler description of the UFC 326 headliner.
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Max Holloway welcomes grappling exchanges with Charles Oliveira
Despite Oliveira’s credentials, Holloway won’t be doing all the things he can to avoid battling the jiu-jitsu specialist on the bottom.
The Brazilian is probably the most prolific submission artist in UFC history, having won a record 17 fights via submission contained in the Octagon.
While that statistic and finishes just like the choke Oliveira secured against Justin Gaethje might make some opponents intent on keeping fights with ‘Do Bronx’ standing, Holloway insists that just isn’t the case for his or her rematch.
“I find it funny, people say that it is a striker vs grappler matchup, but that is MMA,” Holloway told Stake.
“Charles just isn’t a straight jiu-jitsu guy, he uses his strikes to establish his grappling. I’ve seen some people say, ‘If it goes to the bottom, it’s over for Max,’ and I’m like, what?!
“I’m very confident in my takedown defense, but additionally my ground game,” he continued. “I’ve been training in jiu-jitsu for years, I like it. I even have far more jiu-jitsu sessions now than every other aspect, and I actually like them probably the most.
“I like training within the gi. I saw some things online with people saying why am I doing that, it’s unrealistic…but should you can’t hold me down in a gi, then you definately’re not going to carry me down once I’m all sweaty in an MMA fight.”
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Max Holloway will still be the BMF whatever the result at UFC 326
The BMF title is a symbolic crown that continues to separate opinion regarding its importance, especially by way of whether it warrants a numbered event headliner.
One thing is needless to say: the belt is in the precise hands.
From his wars with the likes of Dustin Poirier to his last-second knockout of Gaethje, there may be zero doubt that Holloway is the UFC’s current BMF, and perhaps the highest alternative from the promotion’s history.
A BMF ought to be determined by their mindset, approach, and actions, not a triumph or defeat contained in the Octagon. With that in mind, win or lose at UFC 326, Holloway will still leave the Octagon on March 7 because the BMF.