Charles Oliveira had a lot to prove at UFC 289, despite previously holding the lightweight champion title and defeating several top 10 opponents. Unfortunately, he suffered a one-sided defeat to Islam Makhachev at UFC 280, which reminded fans of past performances where Oliveira struggled when faced with challenges in the octagon.

Makhachev won with ease, taking advantage of Oliveira’s weakness on his feet before tapping him out, which was a surprising outcome for the fighter with the most submissions in UFC history. However, during his fight with Beneil Dariush on Saturday, Oliveira made a spectacular comeback, proving that he still had what it takes to be at the top of the division, winning by a knockout within the first round.

Daniel Cormier commented on Oliveira’s impressive performance on his YouTube channel, stating that with his win over Dariush, Oliveira proved that he was still a force to be reckoned with in the lightweight division. Although Dariush had a guaranteed title shot with a win, Oliveira did not have the same guarantee.

In addition, the upcoming fight between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje in July will likely have a significant impact on the lightweight division, with the winner being in a prime position. However, Oliveira’s recent win over Dariush, coupled with his previous victories over Poirier and Gaethje, proved that he’s a talented fighter who’s vying for the championship title again.

Cormier also mentioned that Oliveira appears to be the second-best fighter in the lightweight division, after Makhachev. Although Makhachev is expected to defend his title in October, no opponent has been finalized yet.

With Oliveira’s latest performance, he has positioned himself as a strong contender for the title. Cormier even further predicted that Makhachev and Oliveira would face off for a rematch in Abu Dhabi, expecting the fight to be more intense and exciting than their first encounter.

Oliveira’s impressive knockout win against Dariush demonstrated that he’s still a talented fighter, despite his previous loss to Makhachev. With his record-breaking twenty wins inside the UFC octagon, his potential to be the top fighter in the lightweight division is evident.

Cormier predicts that Oliveira will have a bright future and that he will remain in the UFC for a long time, which is excellent news for Oliveira fans who know he has the potential to be a tremendous fighter.