Max Holloway explains why he’s unfazed by grappling threat of Charles Oliveira at UFC 326

Even with Oliveira’s reputation, Holloway is not planning to avoid the ground game entirely against the jiu-jitsu ace.

The Brazilian holds the record for most submission wins in UFC history, having secured 17 victories via tapout inside the Octagon.

While that stat and finishes like his choke over Gaethje might lead some fighters to keep things standing, Holloway sees their rematch differently.

The 34-year-old American told Stake: “I find it funny, people say that this is a striker vs grappler matchup, but this is MMA.

“Charles is not a straight jiu-jitsu guy, he uses his strikes to set up his grappling. I’ve seen some people say, ‘If it goes to the ground, it’s over for Max,’ and I’m like, what?!

“I am very confident in my takedown defense, but also my ground game. I’ve been training in jiu-jitsu for years, I love it. I have way more jiu-jitsu sessions now than any other aspect, and I actually like them the most.

“I like training in the gi. I saw some things online with people saying why am I doing that, it’s unrealistic…but if you can’t hold me down in a gi, then you’re not going to hold me down when I’m all sweaty in an MMA fight,” Holloway concluded.

Win or lose at UFC 326, Max Holloway’s BMF status remains untouched

The BMF belt has always been more of a symbol than an official title, and there is no consensus over whether it deserves to headline a major event like UFC 326.

But there is no debating that the belt is with the right person.

With wins over Dustin Poirier and a last-second knockout of Gaethje, Holloway is undoubtedly the UFC’s current, and perhaps all-time, BMF.

It should be judged on mentality, style, and what a fighter brings to every fight. In that sense, whatever happens on March 7th, Holloway will not lose what makes him the sport’s best representative of the BMF label.