More than ten years later, relive the first fight between Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway, who will face each other at UFC 326.

Holloway (left) and Do Bronx (right) faced off in Canada. Photo: Press Release

On the eve of stepping into the octagon once again and having the chance to become the new BMF lightweight champion (up to 70,3 kg), Charles do Bronx will also have the opportunity to avenge one of the most anticlimactic defeats of his entire career when he faces Max Holloway this Saturday (7). Although little talked about among fans and media for obvious reasons, the first confrontation between the two took place more than a decade ago, in August 2015. The duel was part of the main fight of UFC Saskatoon, in Canada.

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At the time, the Hawaiian, then 24 years old, was on a six-fight winning streak in the UFC when he faced a Do Bronx who was only two years older and had defeated four opponents in a row. At the time, both were still climbing the rankings in the featherweight division (up to 65,7 kg), dominated by José Aldo and close to experiencing the peak of Conor McGregor 's meteoric rise.

Despite the hype, the fight didn't last long and ended inconclusively. The Brazilian started the fight aggressively, forcing his opponent to back up and landing good knee strikes from the Muay Thai clinch. Holloway, on the other hand, moved quite laterally and attacked his opponent with body shots and jabs to the face.

During the initial exchanges, Charles attempted a takedown that was well defended by Abençoado, and at that moment the fight came to an end. The future lightweight champion (up to 70,3 kg) suffered a surprising neck injury and could not continue, so referee Herb Dean stopped the fight at one minute and 39 seconds of the first round.

Herb Dean stops the fight after Do Bronx is injured. Photo: Jeff Bottari/UFC

According to the Brazilian, the injury left half of his body numb, to the point that he had to leave the octagon on a stretcher and go immediately to the hospital for tests. The moment was so impactful that since then, the black belt's mother has avoided attending her son's fights. Furthermore, the setback reinforced the "bad omen" of competing in Canada, which would only be completely exorcised by the "Dark Lion" many years later.

Charles and Holloway became big names in the UFC.

Max Holloway face-off with Charles Oliveira . Photo: Reproduction/Instagram.

Both fighters' careers took brilliant paths after the fight. Holloway remained in the featherweight division (up to 65,7 kg) and would become the undisputed champion less than two years later, knocking out José Aldo in June 2017. Even after losing the crown to Alexander Volkanovski , he remained a dominant figure in the division, facing the Australian on two more occasions and challenging for the title again against Ilia Topuria.

He moved up in weight after his first career knockout loss and has been undefeated in the lightweight division (up to 70,3 kg) ever since. "The Blessed One" knocked out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 and avenged two losses to Dustin Poirier in "The Diamond's" retirement fight last year.

“I’M HIM!” – Max Holloway ( UFC 300 ) https://t.co/TruV5cQINw pic.twitter.com/iK8kRZXlie

— klein wong (@kleinwong_) November 20, 2025

Charles suffered several defeats after the first fight and was forced to move up to lightweight (up to 70,3 kg) after it became evident that he had difficulty making weight. From then on, he began one of the most impressive trajectories in the history of the sport, defeating names like Michael Chandler , Dustin Poirier , and Justin Gaethje , and becoming the new champion after Khabib Nurmagomedov 's retirement.

The loss to Islam Makhachev did not diminish the importance of the "Floughed Lion," who remained among the best in the world with victories against Beneil Dariush and Mateusz Gamrot . Recently, he even faced Ilia Topuria for a title shot after the Russian moved to welterweight (up to 77,1 kg).

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