LAS VEGAS — Joe Burrow watched Charles Oliveira batter Max Holloway for 25 grueling minutes on Saturday night at UFC 326. The 36-year-old Brazilian ground out a decisive 50-45 unanimous decision victory to capture the BMF title. But the real bloodbath waiting for the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback isn’t inside the Octagon. It is waiting for him back in the AFC North.
Octagon Side in Sin City
Burrow is no stranger to the mixed martial arts scene. Broadcast cameras caught the 29-year-old signal-caller sitting ringside at T-Mobile Arena, soaking in the violence. He practically treats UFC pay-per-views as a second home. Last year, he hit Miami for UFC 299 with Nick Bosa. In late 2023, he rolled into Austin for a Fight Night event while rehabbing his torn wrist ligament. He even kicked it with Israel Adesanya in Las Vegas at UFC 276 before watching him knock out Alex Pereira months later at UFC 287.
You could almost feel the electricity vibrating through the Vegas crowd on Saturday as Oliveira silenced the arena with an absolute masterclass in grappling. Burrow watched closely. He knows a thing or two about surviving heavy pressure.
“Joe Burrow punching the air right now. Plays Myles Garrett twice next season, plays T.J. Watt twice next season, and now has to play Maxx Crosby twice next season too.”
— Viral Reaction from Bengals Nation on X
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
While Burrow watched fighters trade blows in Vegas, the Baltimore Ravens dropped a nuclear bomb on the rest of the league. Baltimore just acquired five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby from the Raiders. The Bengals already have to block Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt four times a year. Now, they add Crosby to the schedule.
Cincinnati enters the legal tampering period on Monday, March 9, with roughly $47.2 million in cap space. Their offensive line ranked 28th in pass-block win rate last season. To make matters worse, star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson might be heading to the open market. The front office faces an immediate, urgent mandate: build an impenetrable wall around Burrow, or watch the 2026 season collapse under the weight of the most terrifying division in football history.
