MMA Preview – Charles Oliveira vs Beneil Dariush at UFC 289
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CHARLES OLIVEIRA VS BENEIL DARIUSH FACTS
When is UFC 289? Sunday 11th June, 2023 - 01:00 (UK)
Where is UFC 289? Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 289? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 289
What channel is UFC 289 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 289? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
CHARLES OLIVEIRA VS BENEIL DARIUSH LOWDOWN
Charles Oliveira (33-9(1)) emerges after his incredible run finally came to an end. Nine straight wins including knocking out Michael Chandler (2021) saw him capture the vacant lightweight title and he defended it by submitting two of the very best in Dustin Poirier (2021) and Justin Gaethje (2022). Then came Islam Makhachev (2022) who put on a clinic dropping Oliveira early and giving him a taste of his own medicine by submitting him in the second round.
Beneil Dariush (22-4-1) is on the same path Oliveira was when he won the title. He has won eight in a row and has never looked better. The run includes two submissions, two knockouts and he is coming off three hard-fought decisions over Carlos Diego Ferreira (2021), Tony Ferguson (2021) and Mateusz Gamrot (2022).
CHARLES OLIVEIRA VS BENEIL DARIUSH PREDICTION
This fight is carrying the UFC 289 card showcasing Mixed Martial Arts at its finest. We all know their jiu-jitsu is off the charts and can finish this fight in a variety of ways.
We hope to see some grappling exchanges which will more likely be initiated by Oliveira. He will look for any opportunity to pounce on the neck set up by elbows and knees, but Dariush has exceptional takedown defence, so we expect to see them trade a lot of leather.
Oliveira’s finishes over Chandler, Poirer and Gaethje will go down in history, but he took a lot of damage and we are not sure how many more wars he can withstand. Dariush is in his prime and will not back down from a brawl knowing Oliveira is easy to hit.
Dariush can cause a lot of problems from his southpaw stance attacking the lead left leg, but Oliviera can close the distance in an instant and his kicks down the middle and his right hand down the pipe will be money.
The striking exchanges will be fascinating, but we can also see them tangle in the clinch and on the mat. They are very evenly matched, and this should be a war which could come down to composure.
Dariush is more composed but only fighting three rounds will suit Oliveira. He can finish this early, but if he underestimates Dariush, he could get finished himself. Almost any result is possible here but the longer this goes on the more we back Dariush.
Prediction: Dariush via Decision
Value bet: Oliveira via finish
