Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush Prediction: Who Will Take the Co-Main Event at UFC 289?
UFC 289 features a co-main event between Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush. Who will take the co-main event at UFC 289? Ben Rajavouri provides his prediction and pick.
Ben Rajavuori
| 7 min
Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush Prediction: Who Will Take the Co-Main Event at UFC 289?
UFC 289 features a co-main event between two of the top fighters in the lightweight division, Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush. Despite Charles Oliveira being the former champion and No. 1 contender, Beniel Dairush is the sizeable -150 favorite to win at UFC 289. Can Charles get back on track after losing the belt to Makhachev, or will Beneil Dariush continue his run to the top?
Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush Start Time and Where to Watch
- When: Saturday, June 10, 2023
- Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
- Where: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, Canada
- Where to Watch: PPV
Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush Prediction
When it comes to grappling, both Oliveira and Dariush boast top-level skills. Both are black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and both have more submissions wins than knockouts. While Oliveira is known for his exceptional submission game, Dariush is also a well-rounded grappler. Dariush's grappling strategy is so sophisticated that he can sometimes give up takedowns to gain a dominant position ultimately. Meanwhile, Oliveira holds the record for the most submissions in UFC history, making him a lethal force on the ground. His 16 UFC submissions are more than Demian Maia and Jim Miller, who are both second with 11 a piece.
On the feet, Dariush is not to be overlooked. His left hand is his ultimate weapon, capable of wreaking havoc on his opponents. Dariush's left kick is equally powerful. While his footwork and movement may not be the most technical, he compensates by managing distance effectively and avoiding prolonged exchanges in the pocket.
Oliveira, on the other hand, possesses a strict Brazilian Muay Thai style. Oliveira is not the most powerful striker, but he is extremely precise with good form, and sometimes landing clean is better than landing hard. Oliveira's distance striking is a thing of beauty, as he employs kicks from distance and knees to attack the body and maintain control. However, his lack of head movement leaves him vulnerable, which was on display against Michael Chandler in their title fight, when Michael Chandler rocked him in the first round and nearly finished him. Oliveira bounced back with a second-round knockout of his own that put his true power on full display, as Chandler had only been knocked out three times prior in his career.
Both Oliveira and Dariush have been promised a shot at the reigning champion, Islam Makhachev if they emerge victorious in this fight. Despite losing his belt to Makhachev, Oliveira believes he did not perform at his best in their initial encounter, and I'm sure he is itching for a rematch. With his impressive win streak and stylistic threat to the champion, Dariush is equally deserving of a title shot. However, there is a chance that the winner of the Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje bout may overshadow Oliveira and Dariush, as both are long-time UFC vets with resumes second to none.
While I was initially tempted to back Dariush in this fight, I have to take Oliveira at these odds. Makhachev exploited the winning game plan to beat Oliveira, but Dariush is not Makhachev, and Oliveira will not be beaten on the ground twice in a row. If Dariush can make this a greasy decision, I think he can win, but Oliveira is the more aggressive fighter, which can work in his favor or against him. In this fight, I think it plays in his favor, as he proved he could finish durable guys like Chandler on the feet and can submit guys like Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirer, who are almost never submitted. This is too much value to pass up on Oliveira in this spot.
Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush Pick
Pick: Charles Oliveira ML +125 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
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