Charles Oliveira Suggests Rematch with Max Holloway for BMF Title

When Dana White said that Arman Tsarukyan wouldn’t get the next lightweight title shot after pulling out of the UFC 311 main event, attention immediately shifted to Charles Oliveira as the next potential contender for Islam Makhachev’s belt.

However, shortly after this past Saturday’s event, Oliveira gave an interview to UFC Brasil suggesting a different rematch.

“If Islam just wants to return in October, I want to fight before that,” Oliveira said. “Why not Max [Holloway] for the BMF belt? I suffered an injury in the beginning of our first fight. I think we both deserve to make it happen.”

Holloway immediately responded in the affirmative via X: “International Fight week?”

International Fight Week?

— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) January 21, 2025

Diego Lima, Oliveira’s manager and head coach, clarified everything in an interview with Ag.Fight on Tuesday.

“The most important thing for Charles is without a doubt the belt, but we depend on Makhachev for that,” Lima said. “If he wants to fight in June at International Fight week, that would be the ideal world for us, but if he only wants to fight in October, Charles doesn't want to spend a year without fighting, so the ideal situation would be to fight for the BMF belt with Holloway. These are the two possibilities we are currently working on.”

Oliveira and Holloway initially squared off in the UFC Fight Night 74 headliner on Aug. 23, 2015. Holloway emerged victorious at the 1:39 mark of Round 1 after Oliveira suffered an esophagus injury.