A highly anticipated lightweight fight with clear title implications has been postponed due to an injury to former champ Charles Oliveira.
“Do Bronx” was supposed to fight Beneil Dariush at UFC 288 on May 6, 2023. However, an undisclosed injury has seen him forced out of the fight.
Rather than search for a new opponent for Dariush, the promotion is instead looking to push the fight back, and are working on a new date. News of the postponement was first reported by ESPN Deportes.
Depending on the nature of the injury, both UFC 289 in Vancouver and 290, during International Fight Week in Las Vegas, would appear to be suitable options.
Oliveira (33-9, 1NC) has not fought since losing his lightweight title against Islam Makhachev last year. That defeat snapped an 11-fight win streak the Brazilian had compiled between 2018 and 2022. Along the way, Oliveira defeated the likes of Kevin Lee, Tony Ferguson, Michael Chandler, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje.
Dariush has won eight straight fights of his own, and will be looking to finally earn himself a shot at gold in the deep 155lb division.
UFC 288 now moves forward with the following reported match-ups:
- Aljamain Sterling (c) vs. Henry Cejudo — for the UFC bantamweight championship
- Jéssica Andrade vs. Yan Xiaonan
- Kron Gracie vs. Charles Jourdain
- Drew Dober vs. Matt Frevola
- Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Devin Clark
- Khaos Williams vs. Rolando Bedoya
- Marina Rodriguez vs. Virna Jandiroba
- Phil Hawes vs. Ikram Aliskerov
- Rafael Estevam vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov
- Joseph Holmes vs. Claudio Ribiero
- Daniel Santos vs. Johnny Muñoz Jr.
- Parker Porter vs. Braxton Smith
