Charles Oliveira reveals choice to present BMF title with UFC 326 win
· Yahoo Sports
Charles Oliveira intends to carry on the tradition of having someone special present the BMF title once he defeats Max Holloway at UFC 326.
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Oliveira (36-11 MMA, 24-11 UFC) will attempt to take the polarizing belt away from Holloway (27-8 MMA, 23-8 UFC) when they rematch in a lightweight headliner on March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Paramount+). It will be the fifth BMF championship contest in history since the title was introduced in 2019, and each time a special figure has wrapped it around the winner.
For the inaugural BMF title showdown between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz at UFC 244 in November 2019, it was Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson who stepped into the octagon to crown Masvidal. The second BMF fight between Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier at UFC 291 in July 2023 saw Masvidal pass on the lineage by wrapping it around Gaethje's waist.
At UFC 300, UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman crowned Max Holloway after he knocked out Gaethje in one of the most iconic moments in UFC history. Then most recently, at UFC 318 in July, famed musician Lil' Wayne wrapped the title around Holloway after he sent Dustin Poirier into retirement.
Oliveira's choice might not be the hold the same name value as in the past, but he said it would be more meaningful than any celebrity or fellow fighter.
"My father," Oliveira told MMA Junkie through an interpreter on Tuesday. "The reality is if my father and my mother hadn't believed in me and supported me, none of this would've ever happened. None of this would be possible. I wouldn't be here. Having my father put the belt on me, that would be amazing."
Oliveira has accomplished it all in his UFC career. He's been UFC lightweight champion, holds a plethora of the most significant records in company history, and is about to headline his ninth event for the organization.
The BMF belt is not something that existed until more than nine years into Oliveira's UFC tenure, but now he sees it as holding prestige and wants it on his resume.
"It's definitely huge," Oliveira said. "It's one more thing that I can add to my legacy. It's one more achievement. It's great."
Oliveira can admit, however, that the BMF title is not the ultimate prize. He wants to regain definitive status as the best 155-pound fighter on the planet, and the only way to do that is to recapture the divisional title he once held.
At 36, many believe his true championship days are over. It's not unwarranted, because he was just knocked out by Ilia Topuria in the most recent title fight in the weight class at UFC 317 in June.
Topuria has not competed since that fight due to personal issues, though, and Oliveira is looking for his second win against an elite opponent since then after submitting Mateusz Gamrot in October.
"Do Bronx" believes in his ability to take the strap again, whether it's Topuria or someone else holding it, and he anticipates his performance at UFC 326 will stir up more faith beyond his own.
"I think that last fight I made a statement, I sent a message to everyone in the division," Oliveira said. "The lion is still hungry and I definitely think I'm going to make another run for it and I'm going to become a champion."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 326: Charles Oliveira reveals choice to present BMF title