The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas once again hosted a major UFC numbered event, where the BMF title was contested. Charles Oliveira claimed the BMF championship by defeating Max Holloway, while several other fighters secured significant victories. Here are our power rankings for the standout winners from UFC 326’s main card.
UFC 326 Power Rankings: Top Performers
1. Drew Dober
The undisputed “wow” moment of Saturday night’s main card belonged to Drew Dober, who delivered a devastating knockout of veteran lightweight Michael Johnson. While Dober might not yet be in contention for a championship belt, he consistently brings guaranteed action and excitement to the Octagon with every appearance. From his walkout to Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It” to his aggressive fighting style, Dober’s fights are always a must-watch. He experiences both wins and losses, but his victories are typically highlight-reel material. That’s precisely what he delivered on Saturday, flattening Johnson with a colossal punch. This marked his 11th UFC knockout, solidifying his record as the fighter with the most knockouts in the 155-pound division. This impressive performance also earned him a $100,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus.
2. Gregory Rodrigues
At UFC 326, “Robocop” was on a mission for revenge, and he accomplished it. In their initial encounter at UFC 283 in January 2023, Rodrigues suffered a first-round knockout loss to debutant Brunno Ferreira. Since then, Rodrigues has been on an impressive streak, with only a loss to former title challenger Jared Cannonier slightly slowing his momentum. Given the chance to confront his past and avenge his defeat to Ferreira at UFC 326, he seized the opportunity wholeheartedly. With MMA gloves on, his hands are among the most dangerous in the middleweight division (185 pounds). He masterfully deployed his devastating knockout power, dispatching Ferreira in less than half the time it took Ferreira to defeat Rodrigues in their first fight. “Robocop” rectified the situation with a spectacular finish, earning himself a $100,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus.
3. Charles Oliveira
Typically, a title victory would place a fighter at the top of a power ranking. However, in this instance, Charles Oliveira ranks third. This is not a slight against his win or the BMF title, which some may not fully appreciate. The rationale stems more from Oliveira’s approach to securing the belt. Tactically, the Brazilian’s strategy was brilliant. He heavily relied on his grappling, a tactic few, including Max Holloway, anticipated. Recognizing his clear advantage on the mat, he systematically repeated his strategy, ultimately securing a dominant decision victory. Was it ruthlessly effective? Absolutely. Was it the kind of performance one expects from a BMF title fight? Probably not. World titles are fought for by any means necessary – they represent the pinnacle of the sport. But for the BMF belt, where an action-packed fight is implicitly expected, the level of excitement many hoped for was simply absent. Oliveira remains an elite fighter, and more significant bouts are undoubtedly on his horizon. Yet, rightly or wrongly, his performance left the impression that instead of a classic spectacle, we were presented with just another fight.
4. Caio Borralho
The co-main event, featuring Caio Borralho against Reinier de Ridder, was a crucial contest for both athletes. A victory would propel the winner back into title contention, while a loss would relegate the other to “gatekeeper” status in the middleweight division (185 pounds). As the fight progressed on Saturday night, it became clear that Borralho was the one poised to re-enter the championship conversation. He delivered a dominant performance, securing a clean sweep on the scorecards against de Ridder, who occasionally appeared dangerous but at other times seemed demoralized. Borralho’s unanimous decision win will undoubtedly re-establish him in the mix, with a potential matchup against former champion Dricus Du Plessis looming as a future challenge for the Brazilian. As for de Ridder, following two somewhat lackluster showings at 185 pounds, a move up to the light heavyweight division could very well be on the horizon.
5. Raul Rosas Jr.
Who isn’t a fan of Raul Rosas Jr.? This young fighter, who burst into the UFC as a teenager, clearly relishes his time in the Octagon and is demonstrating his emergence as a serious contender in the bantamweight division (135 pounds). On Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena, Rosas took a significant step up in competition, facing long-time ranked contender Rob Font. He delivered an excellent performance, winning every round on all scorecards to secure a dominant victory over the Massachusetts native. There’s still much more to come from Rosas – while his ground dominance was clear, a lack of striking offense from the top position was noticeable. Nevertheless, his progress has now propelled him into the bantamweight top 15. Every subsequent fight will be a challenging encounter, testing him like never before. However, with his positive attitude and eagerness to learn, there’s no reason why Rosas cannot gradually ascend even higher in the rankings.