This Saturday, UFC 289’s co-main event in Vancouver, British Columbia will feature a highly anticipated matchup between Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush. Both fighters have their sights set on a potential lightweight title shot, but Brazilian MMA stars are predicting a challenging match for “do Bronx” and rooting for the former champion.

Oliveira returns to the Octagon after an eight-month hiatus following his loss to Islam Makhachev for the 155-pound belt. The defeat snapped Oliveira’s impressive 11-fight winning streak. On the other hand, Dariush is on a hot streak, having won his previous eight bouts. He’s eager to seize his long-awaited chance at the title.

Demian Maia, a two-time UFC title challenger, visited Oliveira’s training camp at Chute Boxe Diego Lima earlier this year and shared his insights on the upcoming fight during a recent appearance on MMA. Maia believes that both fighters are exceptional and commended Dariush for his wrestling background and love of jiu-jitsu.

Maia also noted that Dariush sometimes gets too emotional during fights, which could work to Oliveira’s advantage. While Oliveira has the edge in jiu-jitsu, Maia believes Dariush has the advantage in wrestling. Ultimately, Maia feels that this fight could be decided on the feet, and he likes both fighters a lot.

Another former UFC and WEC featherweight champion, Jose Aldo, spoke highly of Dariush and his ground game, emphasizing that Dariush deserved to fight for the title already and always delivers great fights. Nonetheless, Aldo is rooting for Oliveira, who he hopes can rebound and potentially secure the belt once again.

Alex Pereira, a former UFC middleweight champion who is now pursuing a light heavyweight title, also expressed his support for Oliveira. Pereira admires Oliveira’s warrior spirit and story, as well as his team’s strategy, which he believes will position Oliveira for his best possible chance at the title. While Pereira acknowledges that the upcoming fight will not be an easy one, he is firmly in Oliveira’s corner.

Overall, the consensus among these esteemed Brazilian MMA stars is that this fight between Oliveira and Dariush will be a close one, with both fighters demonstrating impressive skills. While Dariush may have an advantage in areas such as wrestling, Oliveira’s jiu-jitsu and technical ability give him the edge on the feet.