VANCOUVER, British Columbia – There’s a lot going on in the UFC’s lightweight division. Despite the big-name fights in the horizon, it seems the promotion has a plan.
According to Beneil Dariush, the UFC brass has promised him the next shot at the lightweight title if victorious against former UFC champion Charles Oliveira this Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 289.
“That is correct,” Dariush told MMA Junkie at the UFC 289 media say on Wednesday. “I spoke with Hunter (Campbell) when they rebooked this fight and that’s what they said, that I will be No. 1 contender.”
UFC 289 takes place at Rogers Arena with the main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
The UFC doesn’t have a perfect track record of keeping promises, but Dariush (22-4-1 MMA, 16-4-1 UFC) is confident he will face Islam Makhachev in October for the UFC lightweight title given past conversations with the promotion’s leadership.
“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 take about it then.”
Dariush is currently unbeaten in his past eight UFC bouts and hasn’t tasted defeat in the past five years. This streak includes notable names such as Tony Ferguson, Mateusz Gamrot, Carlos Diego Ferreira, Drew Dober, and Thiago Moises. A win over Charles Oliveira (33-9 MMA, 21-9 UFC), who was the last UFC lightweight champion prior to Makhachev, would certainly solidify Dariush’s claim to the belt.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 289.
