Gregory Rodrigues Rematch With Brunno Ferreira Anchors UFC 326 Card

Brunno Ferreira has publicly explained a recent weight miss and vowed the problem is fixed as he prepares to rematch gregory rodrigues at UFC 326 — a bout that now opens the main card and carries immediate divisional stakes. The matchup pairs Ferreira, who knocked out Rodrigues in their first meeting, against an opponent who enters with clear improvements in striking and momentum.

Ferreira explains weight-miss issues

Ferreira acknowledged missing weight for a December fight with Marvin Vettori and described a training and nutrition approach that pushed his body past a sustainable point. He said he changed his diet in 2025 to add muscle mass to handle training pace, but the shift backfired: cutting down from as high as 216 pounds proved difficult, and he noted he was 189 pounds on the scale for the Vettori weigh-in, with roughly 14 pounds left to cut in the 24 hours before that bout. Ferreira framed the miss as a failure he intended to fix, saying his normal training weight is about 205 pounds tops and that he now feels much lighter and healthier heading into the rematch.

Gregory Rodrigues' striking evolution

Since their 2023 meeting — when Ferreira replaced another opponent and finished gregory rodrigues in the first round — Rodrigues has made measurable gains. He rebounded from a main-event loss early the prior year to post a string of wins, including a unanimous decision over Roman Kopylov and a victory over Jack Hermansson. Statistical measures in preview coverage show Rodrigues averaging 5. 60 significant strikes landed per minute while absorbing 4. 84, figures that outpace Ferreira's 3. 85 landed and 3. 99 absorbed per minute. Those rates underline a notable uptick in Rodrigues' work rate and technical output on the feet, and commentary around the matchup also highlights improvements to his ground game.

What to watch at UFC 326

The event schedule lists the preliminary portion beginning at 5 p. m. ET, with the main card slated for 9 p. m. ET; Rodrigues and Ferreira are billed to open that main card in their rematch. For Ferreira, the key storyline is whether the adjustments to diet and weight management translate into a disciplined camp that avoids another miss and allows him to showcase the power and evolution he says he has developed. For Rodrigues, the focal point is whether his increased strike volume and improved grappling will neutralize Ferreira's power and produce a finish.

Preview projections circulating ahead of the event favor an early finish in this matchup rather than a full three-round fight. One listed pick projects Gregory Rodrigues to win inside the distance at -125, reflecting expectations that both fighters' offense and defensive vulnerabilities could produce a decisive outcome before the final bell.

• Ferreira vows weight issues are resolved and says he feels lighter and healthier.
• Rodrigues has increased striking activity and added ground tools since 2023.
• The rematch opens the main card at 9 p. m. ET and figures to be an early-action bout with finish potential.

Analysts and fans will be watching the scales and early rounds closely: if Ferreira avoids another weigh-in setback and manages cardio at his current weight, he can lean on power; if Rodrigues maintains high-volume striking and uses his improved grappling, the bout could swing decisively in his favor. The fight’s placement at the start of the main card means its result will shape expectations for the rest of UFC 326.