UFC 326 in Las Vegas could feature two major middleweight battles. Max Holloway will defend his BMF title against Charles Oliveira on March 7. The event is quickly filling up, and the promotion aims to deliver multiple high-profile fights for the first quarter of 2026.
Top middleweight contenders make their move
Khamzat Chimaev plans to leave the middleweight division soon after reclaiming the title in August. Several contenders still hope to challenge him, but only big wins in the coming months will secure an opportunity. Chimaev has already named Nassourdine Imavov as his next opponent, making it unlikely anyone else will step into that fight. Sean Strickland and Anthony Hernandez, set to headline a Fight Night in Houston on February 21, could aim for a future title shot.
Reinier de Ridder vs Caio Borralho and Paulo Costa vs Brunno Ferreira
Reports suggest UFC 326 will feature multiple fights with title implications. Leo Guimaraes reported on December 14 that Reinier de Ridder will face Caio Borralho, while Paulo Costa will meet Brunno Ferreira. Both de Ridder and Borralho could have been next in line for a title shot if they had won their previous fights instead of suffering their first UFC losses. After defeating Marvin Vettori at UFC 323, Brunno Ferreira appears set to return to Las Vegas. He reportedly requested a ranked opponent at 185 pounds, and the promotion matched him with former title challenger Paulo Costa. Costa recently ended a two-fight skid at UFC 318 by defeating Roman Kopylov.
Brazilian stars dominate the card
Leo Guimaraes also reported that Renato Moicano will face Brian Ortega in the lightweight division on the same night. All four fights reported or confirmed for UFC 326 feature at least one top Brazilian fighter. UFC appears determined to showcase multiple Brazilian stars in Las Vegas alongside Holloway and Oliveira’s headline clash.
