UFC 289: Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush Preview, Odds, Prediction

The fact that Charles Oliveira returns to the UFC octagon is thrilling, let alone when we hear that his rival is Beneil Dariush. The UFC 289 brings this clash, and it is the co-main event of the spectacle set at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada. These two lightweights are battling to earn a title shot, and many do believe that a victory here buys a ticket to the belt contest. Oliveira used to rule the division until he lost to Makhachev, while on the other side, Dariush is in this position for the first time. 

Preview

Charles Oliveira (33-9, 1 NC, +125) lost his previous fight. It was the bout for the UFC lightweight belt, in which the Brazilian suffered a defeat against the current champ, Islam Makhachev. The Russian broke Oliveira with a high tempo and constant pressure, inflicting him the first loss following eleven straight victories. 

Throughout that span, he defeated guys like Michael Chandler, Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Tony Ferguson, Kevin Lee, etc. Do Bronx, as the fans call him, faced various styles and rivals and has a solid experience in his career. As you can see, he entered the octagon 43 times, which is quite enough. 

Oliveira holds the UFC record for most finishes, 19, and for most submissions, 16. He is maybe the best submission artist ever to be in the UFC, and once he gets ahold of the rival, it’s pretty much the end of the battle. Do Bronx’s cardio is impressive, but he tends to start the fights a bit slower, yet he is the one who finishes them.

Beneil Dariush (22-4-1, -150) didn’t lose in the last five years, beating eight rivals during that span. His most recent victory was over Mateusz Gamrot, one of the guys on the rise and who is already a force in the division. But that is, in fact, the biggest challenge Dariush had to face.

During this invincible streak, the Iranian’s rivals weren’t as hard as Oliveira’s. He beat Tony Ferguson in May 2021, but it was obvious back then that the former interim champ wasn’t competitive anymore. Other of his victims were Drakkar Klose, Drew Dober, Frank Camacho, Scott Holtzman, etc. You have to admit, not that impressive.

Dariush is the guy who knows a little about all aspects of the fight. He doesn’t have some particular skill in his arsenal of weapons but is more of an all-around guy. Though, our opinion is that he is better on the ground than in stand up. When it comes to his cardio and physique, Dariush is excellent, and there aren’t too many guys who can compete with him in this area.

Prediction

Oliveira’s advantage over his rival is an experience in these situations. The Brazilian has fought plenty of top-caliber competitors and knows everything that goes on in and outside the octagon. Dariush is a good fighter, a favorite here according to the odds, but he never competed against such a strong rival as Oliveira. Also, the former champion did lose to Makhachev, but he for sure didn’t forget how to submit his opponents, and that’s why we find the bookmakers’ odds a bit odds here, with Oliveira as the underdog. He will be our pick here.

Pick: Charles Oliveira wins +125