Boxing and MMA Round-Up: Thrills and Spills from the Past Week

Combat Sports Delivers Action-Packed Week with UFC 326 and Zuffa Boxing 04

The world of professional combat sports saw a flurry of activity this past week, highlighted by UFC 326: Holloway vs. Oliveira 2 in Las Vegas and Zuffa Boxing 04, featuring Jai Opetaia vs. Brandon Glanton. Fans were treated to high-stakes matchups and dramatic finishes across both boxing and mixed martial arts.

UFC 326 Sees Oliveira Dominate Holloway for BMF Title

In the highly anticipated main event of UFC 326 on Saturday, March 7, Charles Oliveira delivered a grappling masterclass to defeat Max Holloway by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) and claim the BMF title. Oliveira's relentless wrestling and smothering top control neutralized Holloway's renowned striking, keeping the Hawaiian on the canvas for over 20 minutes of the fight. While some fans yearned for a striking battle, Oliveira's dominant performance showcased a different path to the BMF title.

The UFC 326 card also featured several other notable bouts. Caio Borralho secured a unanimous decision victory over Reinier de Ridder in a middleweight clash. Rising bantamweight star Raul Rosas Jr. earned the biggest win of his young career, defeating Rob Font by unanimous decision. Gregory Rodrigues delivered a blistering knockout over Brunno Ferreira in the first round. In the prelims, Cody Garbrandt won a chaotic decision over Xiao Long, who was docked two points for low blows. Alberto Montes made an impressive debut with a submission victory over Ricky Turcios.

Zuffa Boxing 04 Crowns New Cruiserweight Champion Amidst Controversy

Zuffa Boxing 04 took place on Sunday, March 8, at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, with the main event featuring Jai Opetaia against Brandon Glanton for the Zuffa Boxing Cruiserweight World Championship. Opetaia (30-0, 23 KOs) extended his undefeated record by defeating Glanton via unanimous decision (119-106 on all three scorecards) in a gritty 12-round battle. However, the fight was shrouded in controversy as the IBF opted to strip Opetaia of his IBF cruiserweight title due to his participation in the unsanctioned Zuffa Boxing bout. Opetaia, who also holds The Ring magazine's cruiserweight title, successfully defended that belt.

Other results from Zuffa Boxing 04 included Ricardo Salas stopping Jesus Saracho in the eighth round, and Vlad Panin defeating Shinard Bunch in the ninth. A tightly contested lightweight battle between Brady Ochoa and Adrian Serrano resulted in a majority draw, keeping both fighters' unbeaten records intact.

Elsewhere in Boxing: Figueroa-Ramos Ends in No Contest

On Saturday, March 7, Boxing Insider Promotions held its 20th professional card at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. The main event between undefeated Justin “Mr. Atlantic City” Figueroa and Luis Caraballo Ramos ended in a controversial No Contest in Round 3 due to an accidental foul. Figueroa had appeared to be in control before the unusual ending.