Don’t let his last fight fool you, Charles Oliveira is still someone to fear at UFC lightweights.
The former UFC lightweight champion knocked out fellow lightweight Beneil Dariush in his first match since losing to champion Islam Makhachev, notching a first-round TKO and his 12th victory in 13 fights.
The fight went much like Oliveira’s other fights against top lightweights. He immediately tried to force a grappling battle, daring Dariush to approach him on his back, then got up and lay down in the UFC No. 4 ranked lightweight until he have it on the ground.
The loss ends an eight-game winning streak for Dariush, who looked on course for a title shot should he get through Oliveira. Instead, Oliveira may have just won a rematch against Makhachev, who outplayed him last October at UFC 280.
At least he seems to have Makhachev’s attention: