UFC champion backs Charles Oliveira to defeat Max Holloway at UFC 326

UFC champion Tom Aspinall has backed Charles Oliveira to defeat Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 326 tomorrow.

At UFC 326, Max Holloway will put his BMF title on the line when he collides with old rival Charles Oliveira, whom he first fought over ten years ago. ‘Blessed’ picked up the win on that occasion, but of course, given that it’s been over a decade, we can expect to see a different version of both men in what is turning out to be a really high-stakes encounter.

RELATED: Max Holloway predicted to finish Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 by longtime rival: “I think he fights for a belt”

Holloway and Oliveira are both hungry to try and get back to a world title fight against Ilia Topuria for the UFC lightweight championship. Of course, whether or not that actually comes to fruition, even with a win here, is unclear with both men having been knocked out by him in the past.

In a recent video on his channel, Tom Aspinall became the latest fighter to weigh in on the Holloway vs Oliveira showdown.

Aspinall’s view on Holloway vs Oliveira

“I think it’s a good, evenly matched fight,” Aspinall said on his YouTube channel. “I think that Holloway’s a little bit of a better striker. That being said, Oliveira’s striking has improved a lot, and something I think he’s done is his mentality has improved a lot over the years.

“I think now he’s much more willing to exchange. The thing is, Oliveira is much more dangerous on the ground. I think this fight will end up in a couple of grappling exchanges, and I think Oliveira will win the grappling exchanges. In my opinion, I think right now, Oliveira is going to win this one.”

“The only way that Holloway can win is the way he wins most his fights which is that pressure, volume, his fitness is unbelievable, and just staying at the right range,” Aspinall said. “Both guys are really tall for lightweights, but I think if he stays at the right range, keeps him at the end of his punches, doesn’t overstep which he doesn’t really do anyway, I think there is a way for Holloway to win on points or maybe stop him with strikes later in the fight.”

“I think Oliveira takes this one,” Aspinall said. “Although we don’t see Max on the ground very often, I think he’ll get a hold of him, he’ll drag him down, and I think he’s going to submit him.”

Quotes via MMA Junkie

Do you agree with the champ? Let us know in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!