UFC 326: Main Card Predictions
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The UFC didn’t just stack a card — they built a night designed for chaos.
A long-awaited rematch between former champions Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira for the BMF Championship headlines a main card packed with pivotal middleweight and bantamweight clashes that carry real divisional consequences, high stakes, violence, and lasting legacy implications.
Veterans looking to prove they’ve still got it. Rising contenders fighting to crash the title picture. Prospects facing true “sink or swim” moments.
Nearly every matchup carries serious ramifications, from securing position for a shot at lightweight gold to determining a middleweight title eliminator and testing young talent against hardened veterans. And if the stylistic matchups tell us anything, fans should expect fireworks.
Check out our UFC 326 main card predictions:
BMF Championship
Max Holloway (c) vs. Charles Oliveira (3)
Lee: I must admit, the matchmaking for these BMF title fights are outstanding. A rematch between perennial MMA superstars happening a decade later should be a barn burner and might have future implications for both men’s legacies.
Holloway’s strategy should be to keep the fight standing as Oliveira has been subject to take punishment in his fights. In contrast “Do Bronx” needs to have this fight contested on the mat. Both men have battled elite competition and defended titles, so this should be a fun one.
Official Prediction: Max Holloway via Unanimous Decision
Evan: I share Lee’s sentiments that this is a rare great piece of matchmaking from the UFC. Pitting two beloved fan favorites against one another, in a long overdue rematch, is the perfect utilization of the BMF title. Not to mention the fact that both Holloway and Oliveira are still relevant contenders within the lightweight division.
The stakes of this matchup are extremely high. A win for either would not only enhance their already solidified legacies, but put them right back on track to get a second crack at current UFC lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria.
I definitely believe there’s a chance this could turn into an instant classic five-round firefight. However, I do agree that without initiating any sort of takedowns or scramble scenarios, Oliveira’s path to victory is very limited. While I think he for sure has the offensive firepower to hang with Holloway on the feet, the likelihood Charles wins a striking battle is very slim. He can give Max problems there no doubt, especially inside of the pocket or the clinch. But if his grappling is ruled ineffective, Do Bronx will be in trouble here.
The Brazilian legend’s propensity to crash into his opponents and willingness to take damage, seems like a recipe for a disaster. Just like it was in his meeting with Topuria last June. I see Holloway’s footwork, jab, and combinations, giving Oliveira massive issues. Plus, Max’s new found physicality and power at 155, should only add to that.
This one is going to tug on the heart strings of many fans. I truly hate that one of these dudes has to lose. But I just see Holloway eventually drowning Charles with a torrential downpour of strikes in what should be an incredible scrap.
Official Prediction: Max Holloway via 2nd or 3rd-Round KO/TKO
Middleweight Bout
Caio Borralho (7) vs. Reinier de Ridder (8)
Lee: Another banger and great matchmaking, this top-10 middleweight clash could serve as a title eliminator. Caio Borralho and Reinier de Ridder are both looking to rebound; de Ridder after his corner stoppage loss, and Borralho after suffering his first UFC defeat to Nassourdine Imavov. With both men being dangerous finishers, fireworks are likely. However, I’m siding with the more well-rounded Borralho.
Official Prediction: Caio Borralho via Split Decision
Evan: This card itself is full of enticing, fun, matchups that have a high probability of producing violence. Borralho-de Ridder is a pivotal battle between two contenders at 185 who were on the cusp of getting a title shot, and came up just a bit short in their last outings. If this turns into a chaotic, grimy brawl, an agent of chaos like RDR should thrive in that style of fight. The more he can push Caio to the fence, punish him in the clinch with knees, and initiate scrambles, the better his chances will be here.
But I do think Borralho is the more versatile fighter of the pair. He won’t fall into the Dutch Knight’s web of traps. I think he can exploit de Ridder’s reckless style in multiple ways. I believe his cerebral counter punching, grappling acumen, and offensive wrestling can thwart RDR’s frenetic attack. I’ll also side with the Fighting Nerds product to get the job done.
Official Prediction: Caio Borralho via Unanimous Decision
Bantamweight Bout
Rob Font (13) vs. Raul Rosas Jr.
Lee: Rob Font and Raul Rosas Jr. finally meet in a bantamweight showdown after their first booking fell apart. Rebooking made sense, especially for Rosas Jr., who is coming off a training camp injury.
Font’s veteran presence and superb striking add true intrigue to this matchup. It pits him opposite a younger fighter who is riding a wave of momentum. Rosas Jr. brings a fearsome grappling attack, paired with his constant pace, should be problematic for the savvy vet. Can Font’s high-output boxing hold off Rosa Jr’s grappling and pace?
Official Prediction: Raul Rosas Jr. via 2nd-Round Submission
Evan: To be completely blunt, I think Raul Rosas Jr. is massively overhyped. The notion he was some prodigy destined to become the youngest UFC champion in history, is a complete fallacy. With that being said, he definitely has talent and will be taking on his biggest test to date in a quality veteran like Rob Font. Simply put, this fight comes down to the takedowns.
According to UFC Stats, Rosas Jr. averages 4.01 takedowns per 15 minutes, whereas Font sports a pedestrian 43% takedown defense rate. If Raul can take advantage of Rob’s shaky defensive wrestling and most importantly create back exposures off of mat returns or various other takedowns, he should easily win here. If he can’t do that though, Font is going to box him to pieces. I’ll roll with the 21-year old Mexican prospect to pull this one out. But, this is a true sink or swim moment for him.
Official Prediction: Raul Rosas Jr. via Unanimous Decision
Lightweight Bout
Drew Dober vs. Michael Johnson
Lee: Two grizzled veterans should deliver an explosive affair, as both consistently mix it up and never duck any smoke inside the Octagon. Michael Johnson has won three in a row while showcasing top notch boxing coupled with his seen-it-all fight IQ. Drew Dober has delivered highlight-reel finishes due to his forward-pressure-fighting and dangerous power punches.
This stylistic matchup will see both fighters preferring to keep the fight standing and both willing to exchange. Dober is looking to move up the lightweight rankings while Johnson is fighting to prove he can still compete with the elite.
Official Prediction: Michael Johnson via Split Decision
Evan: I honestly love this pairing between two aging lightweight sluggers. Both are nearing 40, yet still hanging around and are competitive enough to be fringe top 15 guys at 155 pounds.
Johnson has been on a resurgence lately, going 4-1 in his last five Octagon appearances. He is currently enjoying one of the better runs of his career. Dober on the other hand has had a rockier go of or as of late, sporting a 2-4 record in his last six fights where he was finished in three of those four losses.
This is basically a coin flip to me given that both Dober and Johnson have big power. However, they also have questionable durability. Whoever makes a mistake and gets caught first, ultimately will probably lose. I’ll choose Johnson because I favor his length and speed. But I’m not confident either way.
Official Prediction: Michael Johnson via 2nd-Round KO/TKO
Middleweight Bout
Gregory Rodrigues (13) vs. Brunno Ferreira (15)
Lee: Gregory Rodrigues has won his last two fights and Brunno Ferreira is riding a three-fight win streak. I’d have to imagine that Rodrigues will look to do his damage inside while smothering his opponent in the pocket with his power striking. Ferreira has shown he can bang too. But, I think he should look to use his jiu-jitsu in this fight to keep “Robocop” at distance. This one has action packed written all over it.
Official Prediction: Brunno Ferreira via 2nd-Round KO/TKO
Evan: Lee’s spot on with his assessment that this matchup should deliver action regardless of the outcome. These two have already faced off before back at UFC 283 in January 2023, where Ferreira KO’d Rodrigues in the first round. I don’t see much changing that result in their second meeting.
Per UFC Stats, Robocop absorbs 4.84 significant strikes per minute. He just gets hit a ton, and that’s not good when facing a guy who can crack like Ferreira. I’m also going to pick Brunno for that reason, but Rodrigues can easily get redemption here no question.
Official Prediction: Brunno Ferreira via 2nd-Round KO/TKO
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