Mon. Mar 9th, 2026

Charles Oliveira Responds to Nate Diaz & Conor McGregor After UFC 326 Criticism

Charles Oliveira at UFC 326

Charles Oliveira secured the BMF (Baddest Motherf***er) belt at UFC 326 following a dominant performance in the main event. However, his victory quickly became a subject of debate among fighters and fans who criticized the Brazilian for what many perceived as a “dull” showing, despite its effectiveness.

The BMF title, previously held by Max Holloway after his spectacular win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, was last defended by Holloway against UFC legend Dustin Poirier in Poirier’s retirement fight at UFC 318. Oliveira’s claim to the belt came after a grappling-heavy, five-round affair that frustrated some viewers expecting the high-intensity striking battles typically associated with the BMF title.

Ultimately, a fighter’s primary objective is to win, and Oliveira decisively demonstrated his superior grappling skills against Holloway, showcasing a significant gap in that department.

Charles Oliveira Elbows Max Holloway
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 07: Charles Oliveira of Brazil strikes Max Holloway of the United States during their BMF title bout at T-Mobile Arena on March 07, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz React to UFC 326

Conor McGregor vs Nate Diaz 2
LAS VEGAS, NV – AUGUST 20: Nate Diaz punches Conor McGregor of Ireland in their welterweight bout during the UFC 202 event at T-Mobile Arena on August 20, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Two prominent figures in UFC history, Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz, whose careers are perpetually linked, both voiced similar negative reactions to Oliveira’s title fight.

Nate Diaz, an original contender for the BMF belt when it was created in 2019 for his fight against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244, shared his unfiltered opinion on X (formerly Twitter).

Conor McGregor, always a magnet for MMA media attention, especially leading up to the UFC White House announcement that coincided with UFC 326, also posted his thoughts on the BMF title fight on X. He previously debunked rumors of a potential comeback at the White House event.

He followed up with another post stating:

Charles Oliveira Responds

During the post-fight press conference, the newly crowned BMF champion was questioned directly about the criticisms from both McGregor and Diaz, including the possibility of future matchups.

Oliveira boldly responded, “You want to put them at 170, you want to put them up there I don’t care, you want to put them at middleweight we do it, it doesn’t matter. I’ll tell you what if you want it make it a Grand Prix two fights same day see what happens.”

Considering his impressive resume and the current landscape of the lightweight division, Charles Oliveira may indeed be looking towards lucrative “money fights.” However, a definitive return to the octagon for Conor McGregor, while always a topic of discussion, increasingly feels like a distant possibility.

By Jack Thornley

Jack Thornley is a passionate MMA journalist based in Bristol. With over a decade covering everything from local amateur bouts to international UFC events, Jack brings an insider's perspective to his articles. His candid interviews with fighters reveal the human stories behind the combat.

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