Charles Oliveira didn’t expect his night to go south as quickly as it did against Max Holloway back in 2015.
Before Oliveira and Holloway reached the prime of their careers, they were matched up in a pivotal featherweight showdown. The bout ended rather quickly, as Oliveira suffered a micro-tear in his esophagus.
Both Oliveira and Holloway have since amassed Hall of Fame-worthy careers. In an interview with the New York Post, Oliveira reflected on just how scary the injury situation was (h/t MMAMania.com).
”I lost movement on my left side in the fight,” Oliveira said. “People didn’t know how to explain what it was so they talked about the esophagus and all of that. The reality of it, it was an injury to my neck. There were talks that I could have been paralyzed because of that. I lost movement on my left side. It was no joke. In the ambulance, the guys were trying to put an IV in my arm, and I wouldn’t even feel it because I couldn’t feel my left side, so I was scared my career was over in that moment.”
The rematch between Oliveira and Holloway is scheduled to headline UFC 326 on March 7 in Las Vegas. The BMF Championship will be at stake. This will be Oliveira’s first bout since he was knocked out by Ilia Topuria in the first round of their lightweight title fight back in June 2025.
As for Holloway, he’s coming off a unanimous decision victory over Dustin Poirier in “The Diamond’s” retirement fight. “Blessed” is hoping to snag his second win in a row as he looks to get closer to a shot at the UFC Lightweight Championship. Holloway would also like a chance to avenge his Oct. 2024 knockout loss to Topuria.
How excited are you to watch the rematch between Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway? Sound off in the comments below.