Beneil Dariush set for Charles Oliveira test knowing Abu Dhabi title shot is at stake

A few days from most probably the greatest test thus far of his professional career, conceivably one bout from a shot at long last at UFC gold, and Beneil Dariush seems rather relaxed with it all.

“Yeah, I know it may not look like it, but I'm pretty excited,” he tells The National from his hotel room in Vancouver. “Fighting is like, I always consider those 15 minutes in there freedom. So I get to be free for 15 minutes.”

That freedom could lock down his chance of competing next for the UFC lightweight title. The division’s No 4-ranked contender, Dariush takes on Charles Oliveira, the former champion and current No 1 challenger at 155lbs, in the co-main event at UFC 289 on Sunday morning UAE.

Whoever wins at Rogers Arena in western Canada looks set to head east later this year. Although nothing has been confirmed, Islam Makhachev, the lightweight belt-holder, most probably lays in wait at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi on October 21.

Darish, 22-4-1 in professional MMA, is adamant that’s the reward – should he, of course, see off Oliveira this weekend. “I think it's a title shot,” he says. “I mean there's no way of getting around that.”

Not that it provides any extra incentive come fight night. The desire, he confides, is always there.

“Nah, the belt was never a motivation,” Dariush says. “I'm a God-fearing man. I know where my talents come from. That's my real motivation, right there, is knowing who gave me my talents and not to squander them.

“So the belt, no belt, I will always do my best in there.”

Dariush has been showing his best for some time now. Aged 34, the Iranian-born American rides an eight-fight win streak, in his past two bouts taking out Tony Ferguson and Mateusz Gamrot.

The latter took place in Abu Dhabi last