Reinier de Ridder is heading back into the UFC cage at UFC 326 with his eyes on wins, rankings and a tidy extra $100,000. The Dutch middleweight meets Caio Borralho on the March 7 card in Las Vegas, tucked under a BMF main event between Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira at T-Mobile Arena. As much as he expects Holloway to deliver another highlight, he is hoping “Blessed” does not completely steal the show.
Reinier de Ridder Talks Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira
UFC 326 sees Holloway defend the ceremonial BMF title against Oliveira in a lightweight rematch years after their first meeting ended early due to a freak neck injury for the Brazilian. Holloway captured the BMF belt with a last‑second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, then backed it up with a decision win over Dustin Poirier at UFC 318. Oliveira, meanwhile, arrives as the former lightweight champion and the most prolific finisher in UFC history, holding records for most finishes and most submissions, plus a mountain of post‑fight bonuses.
De Ridder’s own spot on the card is a statement booking. The former ONE Championship two‑division titleholder rebounded from health concerns after a punishing stoppage loss to Brendan Allen in Vancouver and has been fast‑tracked back into action. He rides a 4‑1 UFC run that includes a split decision nod over ex‑champ Robert Whittaker and enters UFC 326 ranked inside the middleweight top 10. Across from him stands Borralho, a fellow ranked contender who recently saw a long winning streak snapped by Nassourdine Imavov after a stretch that featured a five‑round victory over Jared Cannonier.
With that kind of matchmaking, De Ridder knows UFC 326 is built for chaos and post‑fight envelopes. Lightweight “bonus machines” like Drew Dober and Michael Johnson are also slated for the card, which only raises the bar for anyone hoping to snag extra cash.
That is why, when he broke down Holloway vs. Oliveira in an interview with Emiel Sardarean, De Ridder mixed analysis with a bit of self‑interest, spelling out exactly how he sees the main event playing out, and where his own bank balance comes in.
“Well, technique‑wise, I think Max has the advantage in the boxing. Charles gets hit a bit too much, and I think that’s where the biggest risk is. Max is going to come through the middle with straight shots and he’s going to win round after round by being a little bit sharper with his boxing. I think Max is more polished on the feet, he has very good movement, and he will outbox him mostly. It’s going to be a cool fight. Hopefully no spectacular knockouts, because I need bonuses.”
Given Holloway’s volume and history of late‑fight drama, De Ridder picking him to finish Oliveira fits the numbers. But with Oliveira’s track record of wild swings, submissions and comeback stoppages, the co‑featured middleweight would prefer if the BMF headliner leaves just a little room for a quieter performance of the night, and a healthy bonus check, down the card.
