Former UFC lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira, is set to make his Octagon return at UFC 288 where he’ll face off against the talented Beneil Dariush. The exciting matchup was recently confirmed by Oliveira himself via his Instagram page.
After experiencing a tough loss against Islam Makhachev in a bid for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 280, Oliveira is eager to regain his footing in the division. A victory over Dariush could potentially lead to a highly sought-after rematch against Makhachev.
Before his defeat at the hands of Makhachev, Oliveira had been on an impressive run in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He claimed the championship by emerging victorious against Michael Chandler at UFC 262 and managed to successfully defend his title against Dustin Poirier.
However, Oliveira was unable to make weight for his bout against Justin Gaethje at UFC 274, resulting in him being stripped of his championship. He subsequently defeated Gaethje via first-round submission.
Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush Face Off at UFC 288 in an Epic Lightweight Showdown
The forthcoming bout will feature Oliveira taking on the rising contender Dariush, who has emerged victorious in his previous eight fights. His most recent triumph was secured by a unanimous decision against Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 280.
Dariush has been vocal about his aspiration for a title shot over the past two years, following remarkable wins over Tony Ferguson and Gamrot. Should he emerge victorious against Oliveira, it’s probable that he’ll be granted a shot at the title in the near future.
The forthcoming UFC 288 event will showcase a high-stakes bantamweight title fight featuring the current champion, Aljamain Sterling, and former two-division champion, Henry Cejudo. While the fight has been officially confirmed, details regarding the event’s venue are yet to be disclosed.
