UFC 289: A Knockout & A Farewell
TAMPA – In a night filled with many exciting moments, UFC 289 showcased incredible talent, with mixed martial artists from all over the globe.
The co-main event saw Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush do battle in a lightweight showdown, while the main event featured Amanda Nunes defending her bantamweight title against Irene Aldana.
The lightweight showdown between Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush left fans on the edge of their seats, as these two warriors entered the cage. Oliveira wasted no time displaying his dominance, throwing heavy and accurate hands, landing a right hook to the jaw, stunning Dariush. After landing some hammer fists, referee Jason Herzog got between the fighters, putting a stop to the fight, leaving Oliveira standing tall.
In the post-fight interview, Daniel Cormier asked Oliveira how he feels after his performance, in which “Do-Bronx” responded, “I’m Charles Oliveira. I’ll be the champion. The champion’s name is Charles Oliveira,” calling out Islam Makhachev for a fight for the UFC Lightweight Championship of the World.
The main event saw Amanda Nunes fight the tough and talented Irene Aldana for the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship. Nunes put her superior striking and relentless aggression on full display, as she constantly pressured Aldana. Although Aldana would show an admirable resilience, heart, determination and grit, she would not be able to stop the dual champion.
At the end of the fifth round, the judge’s scorecards would determine that Nunes reigned supreme, successfully defending the bantamweight title. In the post-fight interview, she told the world, “Tonight is the perfect night to retire and be happy forever. I’ve decided that I’m still young to enjoy things in life. I have my child, my family. I got to spend more time with my family in Brazil as well. I left them at so young to chase this dream. I thank the UFC, Dana White and everyone that makes this show happen. I’m so grateful.”
With Nunes’s retirement, it is the end of an era marked by extraordinary accomplishments and unwavering resilience.
UFC 289 will forever be etched in the hearts of UFC fans as a night of incredible performances, such as Charles Oliveira’s first round knockout and unforgettable moments like the retirement of arguably the greatest female fighter in the history of the UFC, Amanda Nunes. With the end of UFC 289, UFC fans can look forward to new challengers for the UFC Women’s Featherweight and Bantamweight Championships as well as the much-anticipated rematch between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev for the UFC Lightweight Championship.