The UFC heads to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this weekend, with the headline bout a "BMF" title fight between Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira. In the co-main Caio Borralho takes on Reinier de Ridder and Rob Font goes toe-to-toe with Mexican prodigy Raul Rosas Jr. We take a look at our best bets on the UFC 326 card below!
UFC 326 Preview & Betting Tips
Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira
The main event is a rematch more than a decade in the making, with Holloway winning by TKO way back in 2015 due to an Oliveira injury. However, unlike most rematches, there is almost nothing similar anymore given there has been so much water under the bridge and plenty of title fight wins under both their belts since then.
Holloway is defending the "BMF" title for the second time, after winning it in devastating fashion against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 before beating Dustin Poirier in his retirement fight last July. Oliveira comes into this fight on the back of an impressive submission victory over Mateusz Gamrot last year. A win here could theoretically give either man a title shot next, so there is plenty on the line. Holloway should have the striking advantage in this match up, while Oliveira only needs a moment to lock in a submission.
Ultimately I see Holloway keeping this at a distance and leaning on his takedown defence when needed to get the win. Oliveira has also always been a little chinny so sprinkle a bit on a Holloway knockout as well.
Holloway to win by KO/TKO: $3 (1 Unit)
Max Holloway to win
$1.48 (4 Units)
Gregory Rodrigues vs. Brunno Ferreira
This is my favourite underdog spot on the card in the battle of the Brazilians between Gregory Rodrigues and Brunno Ferreira. Both men have elite grappling, but mostly rely on their punching power. A whopping 60 per cent of their combined UFC fights have ended with someone being KO’d.
However, I believe this could turn into a clinch battle, and in that instance, I favour Ferreira. Since bursting onto the UFC map on the back of KO’s, Ferreira has gone back to his judo roots in the last 12 months. Doing that saw him rack up two armbar wins last year alone, and I believe he will try to do similar again on Sunday (AEDT). Rodrigues is dangerous when you let him back you up, but I believe Ferreira will be the one putting pressure on him, sapping Rodrigues’s gas tank and blowing up his arms in a clinch battle against the fence. This one likely isn’t pretty but I see Ferreira doing enough to get his hand raised.
Bruno Ferreira to win
$2.60 (3 Units)
Long Xiao vs. Cody Garbrandt
I am going to open this by saying I can’t believe I am taking Cody Garbrandt either. The former bantamweight champ has been an absolute mess in recent years, being stopped on countless occasions and looking a shell of the man who completely destroyed Dominick Cruz to win a title. That night, Garbrandt moved to 11-0 and became the UFC champion. Since then it’s been pretty much all misery for ‘No love’.
However, the fact is I don’t think Long Xiao is UFC calibre. Simply put if Garbrandt loses this the UFC may as well cut him. Back in 2021, Long fought on The Contender Series and lost a decision. He then went 2-0 on Road to UFC which earned him a contract, and since he’s gone 1-2 and looked bang average. He doesn’t do anything particularly well, and if Garbrandt has got anything left in the tank he should completely carve him up here. And at underdog odds, that’s good enough for me.
Cody Garbrandt to win
$2.20 (2 Units)
