Beneil Dariush, Charles Oliveira expect title fight after UFC 289
The co-main event of UFC 289 between Beneil Dariush and Charles Oliveira looks to be one of the best fights on the card. In addition to being a fan-friendly scrap, it will also be a No. 1 contenders bout. At UFC 289 Media Day, each fighter revealed they expect a win to result in a title fight against UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
“They’re very honest with me,” Dariush said. “I called them and when we speak it’s very clear. Whatever they want with me is very clear. We don’t play games. So this is the first time they said, ‘Yeah, you’re No. 1 contender if you win this fight.’ So I just take it at their word. I’ll figure out the rest afterward, but right now, take Charles out and if they say something different we’ll talk about it then.”
Quote via MMAJunkie
Dariush, 34, is closing in on his first opportunity to fight for a UFC title. The honor is more than deserved as he has won eight fights in a row. A win over Oliveira, a former champion, would be more than enough to push him firmly into title contention.
“Surely,” Oliveira said. “Whoever wins this fight this Saturday is going to go for the title. I’m next. I’m in line for it.”
Quote via MMAJunkie
Oliveira finds himself in a vastly different position than Dariush. The former champion is looking to get a rematch against Makhachev in an attempt to regain the title. The pair first fought at UFC 280 where Makhachev defeated Oliveira in a championship bout.
A guaranteed title shot should not come as a surprise for Dariush since he has yet to fight for the title. Conversely, there were questions surrounding Oliveira’s position as a title contender after Makhachev convincingly defeated the Brazilian.
At the moment, the lightweight division has plenty of potential title challengers. The winner of Dariush vs. Oliveira presents a strong option, but the winner of the UFC 291 main event between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje will deserve consideration as well. Additionally, there is always a chance that UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski makes another run at double champion status.
Amidst a crowded title picture, Dariush and Oliveira have an edge on the field simply because of logistics. While unconfirmed, Makachev will likely defend the lightweight title at UFC 294 in October. That means the winner of the UFC 289 co-main event will have adequate time to prepare for the bout.
Meanwhile, Poirier, Gaethje and Volkanovski are all set to fight later this summer meaning they would be tasked with a much quicker turnaround. The most plausible outcome is that Dariush or Oliveira get a title fight with Gaethje, Poirier and Volkanovski competing for the following bout.
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