Max Holloway Calls Out Legend, But Wants to Fight on His Terms

Following his submission win, Oliveira named his next desired opponent. 

Through an interpreter, he directly addressed UFC executive Hunter Campbell, stating, "Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway, BMF, let's make that happen."

The response came swiftly. During a live stream on his Kick channel, Max Holloway addressed the challenge head-on. 

"I'm interested," Holloway stated. "Why wouldn't I be? We heard the callout. I'm here. Only time will tell now."

His acknowledgment confirms the fight is a real possibility, thrilling fans who have waited nearly a decade for a proper conclusion to their rivalry.

Holloway and Oliveira first met in 2015 at UFC Saskatoon in what was the first UFC main event for both fighters. 

The bout ended abruptly and, for fans, unsatisfyingly in less than two minutes after Oliveira suffered a freak esophageal injury, resulting in a TKO victory for Holloway. This inconclusive finish has left a question mark over their history for years.

"He's blaming [that loss] on some type of injury. I guess we get to figure it out now," Holloway stated.

Since that fight, both fighters’ careers have soared. Oliveira moved up to Lightweight, where he captured the UFC title and built one of the most impressive resumes in the sport's history. Holloway, meanwhile, dominated the Featherweight division, winning and defending the 145-pound title multiple times.

Now, both legends are positioned at Lightweight, with Holloway holding the symbolic BMF belt, making a rematch more compelling than ever.

While he is interested in the fight, Holloway wants the location and timing to be on his terms. He immediately dismissed the idea of traveling to his opponent's home territory for a second time, drawing on his experience fighting Jose Aldo in Brazil.

“No, I’m not f—ing going to Rio. Fight in Las Vegas or something,” he stated emphatically. “We fight on my terms. We fight on my terms, brother.”

His counter-proposal was for the fight to take place in Las Vegas, ideally in the early part of the year, suggesting February 2026 as a potential return.

Interestingly, Charles Oliveira has no preference for where or when his potential fight with Holloway will go down.

During the UFC Rio post-fight press conference, he showed flexibility on the location, stating, “It can be in his house. If it’s not in Brazil, it can be anywhere in the world.”

The idea of staging the fight on the potential UFC card at the White House in June 2026 was floated, but Holloway expressed reluctance about such a long layoff. 

"Sitting out a year would be f—ing terrible," he said. "The White House card is just so far away... I don't know if I want to wait that long. We'll see what happens. Never say never."

A Holloway vs. Oliveira rematch is one of the most intriguing fights the UFC can make. It pits two of the sport's most respected and exciting action fighters against each other for a second time, with a chance to provide a definitive ending to their unfinished business. For Oliveira, a win would add the unique BMF title to his Hall of Fame career. For Holloway, a victory would solidify his status as a two-division force and erase any doubts from their first encounter.