UFC 289 main card preview & top betting tips – June 11, 2023

The UFC 289 main card from Rogers Arena in Vancouver is headlined by Amanda Nunes and Irene Aldana, but many will be viewing the middleweight clash between recently dethroned champ Charles Oliveira and the often-overlooked Beneil Dariush as the highlight of the night.

The card also features the anticipated appearance of Mike Malott, who is ready to step up his profile with a big performance under the bright lights.

Read on for all our betting tips and analysis, including top odds from the best UFC betting sites.

Amanda Nunes v Irene Aldana

Amanda Nunes vs Irene Aldana

Does Irene Aldana have what it takes to dethrone one of the all-time greats of the octagon? See our Nunes v Aldana main event preview and betting tips here.

Charles Oliveira v Beneil Dariush

Charles Oliveira vs Beneil Dariush

Charles Oliveira (33-9-0) is on the comeback trail after losing the middleweight belt to Islam Makhachev in October 2022. The Brazilian grappling specialist, who holds the all-time UFC record for submission wins, was submitted himself by the Russian and must now rebuild his confidence following the second-round stoppage. Oliveira is 33 years old and might be showing the wear and tear of a lengthy MMA career.

The outcome of this fight will largely rest on Oliveira’s mental state. The Brazilian was unbeaten across an 11-fight streak against his division’s best talent, so we can naturally expect some deflation following the defeat to Makhachev. Oliveira has not opted for an easy matchup and will have his hands full with a confident opponent who is ready to launch a run at UFC gold.

Beneil Dariush (22-4-1) enters this contest on an eight-fight winning run that sees him knocking on the door of a title challenge. The Iran-born grappler has struggled to book fights in recent months due to his relentless attacking style and a quiet humility that makes him a reluctant salesman. He is a bulldog in the ring who will not let go of an opponent once attached, and this makes for an enthralling stylistic matchup.

The winner of this fixture will be likely to make a call-out to the current champion, who will watch with interest as the contenders sort out their pecking order. We are tipping Dariush to prevail against Oliveira, who faces a tough task after such a long run of success was brutally punctured.

Mike Malott v Adam Fugitt

Mike Malott vs Adam Fugitt

Mike Malott (9-1-1) is a black belt BJJ fighter who has coached and cornered many of the Team Alpha Male squad, including Urijah Faber and Cody Garbrandt. He earned his UFC contract with a tidy submission win in 2020 and has since chalked up successive first-round stoppages. Malott combines excellent technique with a high fight IQ and might be a prospect to watch in the welterweight division.

Adam Fugitt (9-3-1) lines up for his third fight at UFC level with one win and one loss at this early stage of his career. The win was a first-round TKO stoppage over Yusaku Kinoshita due to undefended elbows, while the loss was a third-round TKO. Fugitt is not afraid to stand and trade with any opponent. He will need to keep this contest on the feet, where he can unload some powerful strikes and avoid the superior ground-game of Malott.

Dan Ige v Nate Landwehr

Dan Ige vs Nate Landwehr

Dan Ige (16-6-0) is hoping to rebuild his UFC career after a rough stretch during 2021 and 2022 where he endured three straight decision losses. The Hawaiian did score a victory on his most recent trip to the cage when he knocked out Damon Jackson, so there is hope for a turnaround. The decision defeats were especially disappointing because Ige had opportunities to finish all three fights but failed to capitalise.

Nate Landwehr (17-4-0) is a stand-and-trade fighter who refuses to take a backward step and often overcomes early strife to find a path to victory. This was the case in his last UFC outing, when he endured a tough opening round but managed to sink in a rear naked choke onto the neck of a tiring Auston Lingo. The Tennessee native might be wise to improve his defensive skills, although three straight wins will probably see him stick with a gameplan that is paying dividends.

Marc-Andre Barriault v Eryk Anders

Marc-Andre Barriault vs Eryk Anders

Marc-Andre Barriault (15-6-0) is 2-2 from his most recent UFC outings and will need to find additional consistency in his approach. The Canadian is a knockout artist with 10 of his 15 professional wins coming via that method. He possesses a granite jaw and has only been finished once by strikes. He will be looking to back his opponent up toward the fence and unload heavy combinations to score another stoppage win.

Eryk Anders (15-7-0) scored a career-saving knockout at his most recent bout after enduring a tough run of results that included three losses, one no contest, and one win since 2020. The Alabaman is also comfortable throwing heavy leather and boasts nine wins via knockout. Anders has fought as high as 205 pounds but looks more effective in the 185-pound division. This fight promises to be a banger and looks unlikely to go the distance.

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