UFC boss Dana White has finally confirmed the release date of his hyped White House card, slated for June – while also offering up a surprise $50,000 gift to Hawaiian legend Max Holloway.
UFC 326 Holloway vs Oliveira 2 | SUN 8 MARCH 1PM AEDT | After 11 years removed from their first encounter, Max Holloway will face the former lightweight champ Charles Oliveira for the BMF Championship, in Las Vegas. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Only a week after revealing a series of exclusive White House event renderings foxsports.com.au, White has now confirmed he will announce the card during Sunday’s UFC 326 broadcast on Main Event and Kayo Sports.
Speaking at Friday’s press conference for UFC 326 – which sees Holloway defend his BMF title against Brazilian Charles Oliveira – the US promoter also confirmed that, once again, he will have somebody other than himself present the belt.
While the BMF strap has previously been wrapped around the waist of fighters by the likes of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Jorge Masvidal, this weekend the victor will have a family member do the honours.
Already, Holloway has requested his wife present him with the Baddest Motherf***er strap in victory, while if Oliveira is successful the presentation will be done by his father.
Elsewhere, White also offered up a surprise gift to Holloway, who is using Sunday’s event to help raise money for underprivileged Hawaiian youth by auctioning off a unique pair of fight gloves.
Holloway-Oliveira face off for BMF | 00:28
“So are people bidding on them?” White asked during the press event.
“People bidding on them,” Holloway replied.
“Fifty thousand,” White then said, grinning. “I’m in for fifty thousand right now.”
Then, well, it was back to whos’ got the next question …
Elsewhere, and as longtime fans of the sport need no reminding, Sunday’s headliner also doubles as a rematch between of the sport’s genuine greats, with Holloway having earned a first round TKO win against Oliveira way back in 2015.
In that fight however, Oliveira was rendered unable to continue after sustaining a neck injury while attempting a takedown. And given that outcome, plus the time that has since passed, Holloway insisted during Friday’s press conference that it would have no bearing on this weekend.
“Nah, man,” he replied. “That first fight was a long time ago.
“Even [Oliveira] said it. Before he was a jiu jitsu guy, now he’s an MMA guy. So I guess we’ll get to find out.”
Speaking earlier this week, Holloway also told reporters the most BMF thing he could do against Oliveira this Sunday is to try and submit the submission guy.
Holloway or Oliveira? Rob chats BMF bout | 04:26
But as for that really being part of his game plan, or just a neat throwaway line?
“Never say never,” the fighter dubbed Blessed grinned. “Tune in.”
Soon after, Oliveira was asked about the reverse being true — and if he wanted to confirm his BMF status on the feet?
“Listen, I’m here to fight,” the Brazilian replied. “I can finish. I can knock him out.
“I’m a problem for this division. It’s going to be a great fight.”
And as for what makes Oliveira worthy of a BMF scrap?
“Dude is a legend,” Holloway said.
“A lot of people are making this fight to be a striker versus grappler match. But with a lot of his subs, before he submits these guys he’s killing them on the feet, striking them, hurting them.
“He’s a BMF in my eyes, man.”
Across the other side of the stage, Oliveira was also full of praise
“Max is one of the legends,” he said. “And I’m very excited to fight a legend. It’s going to be a great fight. And I’m ready for that.”
Around this time, White was also asked when the UFC White House card would be revealed?
“Saturday night,” he grinned, referencing what will be Sunday afternoon Australian time.
Next up, White was also asked about UK promoter Eddie Hearn having overnight signed on to manage UFC heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall.
“We don’t have any issues with Eddie,” White said. “They can get whoever they want to represent them.
“Tito Ortiz used to represent people and we got it done.”
Rob Whittaker contemplates LHW opponent | 04:14
Elsewhere, American journalist Mike Bohn also reminded Holloway that, should Sunday’s bout reach the fourth round, he will surpass Rafael dos Anjos for most fight time in UFC history.
So given you will have been seen more than any other fighter, Bohn continued, what more do you want to show off before your career is over?
“Man, I got another undisputed title on my mind right now,” Holloway replied, referencing a lightweight division where Ilia Topuria is king, and American Justin Gaethje also holds the interim strap.
“I want gold.
“A lot of people are telling me that I’m gunna be a two-division champ. They’re saying that this BMF title makes me a two-division champ.
“I don’t believe ‘em.
“I want that gold.
“So first things first, Charles Oliveira.
“[Grinning] And you just reminded me that I’ve been in the Octagon for too damn long … what the hell.”
Elsewhere at the press conference, Raul Rosas Jnr offered up his signature ‘chiwiwis’ chant, while there was also plenty of banter between UFC middleweight rivals Reinier de Ridder and Caio Borralho.
To end the press conference, Borralho also promised to do the same of his opponent.
“[Although] I never say it’s going to be an easy finish,” he stressed. “RDR is a guy that I respect a lot.
“He has a lot of skills. Good grappler.
“He is coming off great wins in the UFC and I respect that a lot.
“He is a problem Saturday that I need to solve.
“And as a fighting nerd, I’m going to solve the problem and take an A-plus in this test.
“It’s just a matter of who are we going to see on Saturday night.
“De Ridder … or the quitter.”