The UFC heads to Canada for the first time since September 2019 this weekend and a quality fight card has been assembled in Vancouver .
The Greatest female mixed martial artist of all time will defend her UFC Bantamweight title against Irene Aldana and the former UFC Lightweight champ Charles Oliveira takes on Beneil Dariush in the co-main event.
Our full UFC 289: Nunes vs Aldana Tips & Preview can be found below.
Amanda Nunes vs Irene Aldana
Tip: Irene Aldana by KO/TKO at $8.00
Two division champion Amanda Nunes avenged her loss to Julianna Pena in December 2021 just seven months later by putting on a dominant display at UFC 277.
She knocked Pena down several time and while the fight did go the full five rounds, the judges were not needed to know who won the fight.
The trilogy fight was supposed to take place here but Pena suffered broken ribs and in stepped Irene Aldana who is a worthy replacement.
Aldana has a professional record of 14 wins and six losses but only one of those losses have come dating back to 2019.
She has won four of her last five which includes first round KO/TKO victories over Ketlen Vieira and Yana Kunitskaya.
There is plenty of power in her hands and she will need to go into the fire to give herself every chance against Nunes.
She must be willing to get hit to finish this fight and she has the blue print to do this with Julianna Pena in her first fight with Nunes.
Fight behind her jab and throw combinations that include a straight right down the middle and she may cause some damage.
I’m looking for value and tipping an upset in the main event.
Charles Oliveira vs Beneil Dariush
Tip: Charles Oliveira at $2.25
Charles Oliveira’s 11 fight win streak came to an end when he lost his Lightweight title fight against Islam Makhachev in October of last year.
That run of wins included finishes against Tony Ferguson, Michael Chandler, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.
He holds the record for most finishes as well as most submissions in the UFC and a win here would have him right back in the title picture.
Beneil Dariush has earned this shot against a former champion by winning his last eight in a row dating back to November 2018.
The only fighter that he has beaten in this winning run that is currently ranked inside the top 15 in the division is Mateusz Gamrot (7) who he beat via a decision.
He has fought only once in the last two years and I can’t find a reason he should be favourite in this match up.
While he is a very capable grappler, I think there are levels to this game and Charles Oliveira represents great value at his head to head price.
Mike Malott vs Adam Fugitt
Tip: Mike Malott by KO/TKO or Submission
Local Canadian Mike Malott gets his chance on the big stage on Sunday and he’ll start a warm favourite.
He has just one loss on his professional MMA resume and brings in a five fight win streak.
He won a UFC contract through the Dana White Contender Series in late 2021 and has won his first wo fights inside the organisation.
Adam Fugitt lost via TKO when making his UFC debut at Pena vs Nunes 2 in July last year but bounced back with a win in February.
He brings in a record of 9 wins and three losses but at 34 years of age he has just two more pro fights than Malott.
These fights are often set up for the home town hero and considering all nine of Malott’s wins have been finishes, I think he can finish this inside three rounds.
