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Andreas Hale
When Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira squared off for the BMF title at UFC 326 in Las Vegas, the expectation was a fight of the year candidate.
Instead of getting a memorable throwdown between two fighters allergic to having bad fights, fans were subject to a grappling clinic by Oliveira to secure the win in a lackluster main event that was built on the premise of entertainment.
Unfortunately, the rest of the card also failed to impress with fights that lacked fireworks or drama. Aside from Gregory Rodrigues‘ revenge, Alberto Montes‘ impressive UFC debut and Drew Dober extending his UFC lightweight record for most knockouts, UFC 326 was an underwhelming experience.
But how bad was it?
After each UFC numbered event, we break down and assess the quality of each fight and the fight card itself based on skill displayed, competitiveness and what is at stake.
Featherweight: Ricky Turcios vs. Alberto Montes
Result: Montes defeats Turcios by second-round submission
Grade: B+
Montes’ UFC debut was impressive. His striking was exceptional, and Turcios was the perfect dance partner for him to display all of his skills. Turcios was aggressive and met Montes in the center of the Octagon, but he soon found out why “The Promise” was highly touted coming into the UFC. Montes battered Turcios around in Round 1 and forced Turcios to alter his strategy. However, that’s exactly what Montes was waiting for as he snuffed out a takedown attempt early in Round 2 and immediately cinched in his signature anaconda choke that put Turcios to sleep before he could tap out. Montes is one to keep an eye on after a stellar debut appearance.
Middleweight: Gregory Rodrigues vs. Brunno Ferreira
Result: Rodrigues defeats Ferreira by first-round KO
Grade: B+
Rodrigues landed two punches: one to the body and one to the head. The punch to the head cleaned Ferreira’s clock and avenged Rodrigues’ 2023 knockout loss to Ferreira in devastating fashion. It was violent and beautiful. Rodrigues recognized Ferreira switching to a southpaw stance and took advantage with a thunderous right hand. On a night of below-average fights, UFC 326 desperately needed this.
Lightweight: Drew Dober vs. Michael Johnson
Result: Dober defeats Johnson by second-round TKO
Grade: B
Dober collected his lightweight division-leading 11th knockout destructively, crushing Johnson with a straight left hand in Round 2. Dober had to navigate Johnson’s fast hands and sharp jab in the opening round before he settled in to deliver a jaw-dropping finish. Even though both fighters respected each other’s power, they were busy, and it felt like the end could come at any moment. Eventually, it did when a Dober left hand connected with Johnson’s chin and sent him to the canvas. The follow-up strikes weren’t needed, but added to yet another impressive knockout win for Dober.
Light heavyweight: Rodolfo Bellato vs. Luke Fernandez
Result: Bellato defeats Fernandez by first-round TKO
Grade: B
Bellato spent the first three minutes getting busted up from punches and knees from the previously unbeaten Fernandez, who was making his UFC debut. Bellato looked like he was about to suffer his fourth consecutive loss, but then he caught Fernandez sleeping. While exiting a clinch, Bellato hit Fernandez with a left hook that sent him crashing to the mat. Bellato gave chase and ransacked his downed opponent with rapid-fire hammerfists until he forced the referee to end the bout. The left hook looked like it caught Fernandez by surprise more than it actually hurt him, but before he could get his wits about him, Bellato’s fist was bouncing off of his head. A solid win and a great way to end a losing streak for the Brazilian.
Middleweight: Caio Borralho vs. Reinier de Ridder
Result: Borralho defeats de Ridder by unanimous decision
Grade: C+
What started fast fizzled out in a hurry, as Borralho labored to a unanimous decision. It wasn’t entirely his fault. Borralho was brilliant in the first round, routinely beating de Ridder to the punch. The Dutch fighter slowed things to a crawl in Round 2, locking up Borralho in clinches whenever he got close and sought takedowns. The strategy won de Ridder the second round but sapped the fight of energy. Borralho flipped the script and took de Ridder down in the final round and did just enough to leave the Octagon with the win.
Men’s flyweight: Cody Durden vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel
Result: Tumendemberel defeats Durden by unanimous decision
Grade: C
This was another fight devoid of fireworks, as Tumendemberel was constantly a step ahead of Durden throughout their 15 Octagon minutes. There were plenty of grappling exchanges that Tumendemberel surprisingly got the better of because Durden’s wrestling wasn’t good enough to control his opponent. Durden’s eight total strikes landed should tell you all you need to know about how the fight went for him.
Men’s bantamweight: Rob Font vs. Raul Rosas Jr.
Result: Rosas defeats Font by unanimous decision
Grade: C-
Rosas got the biggest win of his young career with a shutout of Font, but the fight didn’t deliver from an entertainment standpoint. Give Rosas credit for securing 16 takedowns, but he never threatened a finish at any point. Instead, it was an exhibition of control by the extremely cautious 21-year-old. While Rosas should crack the bantamweight rankings, this won’t go down as a memorable performance.
Light heavyweight: Rafael Tobias vs. Diyar Nurgozhay
Result: Nurgozhay defeats Tobias by unanimous decision
Grade: C-
This fight epitomized a C grade for the first two rounds. The action was solid, with Nurgozhay taking charge early and Tobias staging a rally in the second round. Then the fight slowed to a crawl in the final frame, with little action and a whole lot of clinching. Nurgozhay did enough to win, but it wasn’t a performance that will command repeat viewings.
Men’s flyweight: Sumudaerji vs. Jesus Aguilar
Result: Sumudaerji defeats Aguilar by unanimous decision
Grade: C-
This wasn’t a particularly exciting affair, but Sumudaerji effectively used his height and reach to neutralize Aguilar for nearly every minute of the fight. Aguilar tried to work his way inside but found himself on the end of Sumudaerji’s punches and kicks. It ended up playing out like a sparring session, until both fighters let their hands go for the final 10 seconds of the fight. Sumudaerji did what he had to do and cannot be blamed for Aguilar’s shortcomings in a fight that lacked highlight-reel material.
Middleweight: Donte Johnson vs. Cody Brundage
Result: Johnson defeats Brundage by split decision
Grade: D+
Brundage did everything he could to tame the explosive Johnson, but it wasn’t enough to earn the victory in a fight that felt like it was full of false starts. Johnson tried to collect his eighth consecutive win by knockout or submission, but Brundage repeatedly stalled him with grappling and stymied his striking with counters and jabs. It didn’t equate to a win or much excitement. Instead, it was Johnson’s activity — regardless of whether he damaged Brundage with the 84 total strikes landed — that earned him the win. Johnson will have better days ahead, but he’ll have to learn how to set up his strikes better against future opponents.
Men’s bantamweight: Cody Garbrandt vs. Xiao Long
Result: Garbrandt defeats Xiao by unanimous decision
Grade: D-
This was a rough one to watch. There were more consequential low blows than there were meaningful strikes in the fight. Xiao outlanded Garbrandt 61-19 in the total strikes department and still managed to lose. How? Well, Xiao repeatedly landed low blows, including one in Round 3 that had Garbrandt vomiting into a bucket. When action resumed, Garbrandt appeared riled up … then proceeded to do absolutely nothing. He avoided Xiao for the majority of the rest of the fight, but the two point deductions were enough to earn Garbrandt the win in a disappointing fight.
BMF title fight: Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira
Result: Oliveira defeats Holloway by unanimous decision
Grade: F
This fight would have had a higher grade had it not been a BMF title fight. But because this was supposed to be a fight in which the baddest throw down, it ended up failing miserably as Oliveira put Holloway in a grappling blender for five rounds. The contest was so one-sided that fans were looking for the exit before the decision was read. Aside from an opening round in which Oliveira threatened with numerous rear-naked choke attempts, the fight was all about maintaining control and reducing risk. In a fight that didn’t have a BMF title on the line, there would be significant praise for how Oliveira secured five takedowns and maintained over 20 minutes of control. But that’s not the fight anyone signed up for. This was, by far, the worst BMF title fight thus far. Very disappointing outcome for a highly anticipated fight.
UFC 326 grade: D-
When a highly anticipated BMF title fight between two of the UFC’s most exciting fighters fails to deliver, the entire event is brought down with it. Unfortunately, UFC 326 lacked memorable moments as it crawled to eight decisions, with the final three fights being one-sided clean sweeps that failed to entertain. The UFC rarely has bad nights like this, but UFC 326 set the bar for futility.
