The viewership for the ceremonial weigh-ins of UFC 289 on the official YouTube channel of the UFC reportedly reached its highest point during the weigh-in segment of the co-main event rather than the main event.
The pay-per-view event UFC 289 will feature a UFC women’s bantamweight title matchup between champion Amanda Nunes and challenger Irene Aldana as its headline fight.
The clash between Nunes and Aldana will be preceded by a lightweight bout between fan-favorite Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush, which serves as the co-main event.
Fan interest surrounds Oliveira vs Daruish at UFC 289 more than Amanda Nunes vs Irene Aldana
Leading up to the UFC 289 event scheduled for June 10, 2023, certain sections of the MMA community have recognized the co-headlining fight as the true main event. Jed I. Goodman’s reports indicate that the viewership numbers for the live ceremonial weigh-ins further support this notion.
Goodman shared a couple of tweets suggesting that the viewership of the ceremonial weigh-ins peaked during the co-main event rather than the main event.
Amanda Nunes, the reigning UFC women’s featherweight and bantamweight champion, regained the bantamweight belt in July 2022 by defeating Julianna Pena via unanimous decision in her most recent fight.
On the other hand, Irene, her opponent for UFC 289, secured a third-round knockout victory over Macy Chiasson in September 2022.
Amanda Nunes has established herself as one of the true legends in the sport of MMA. However, Irene is seen as a formidable challenge for ‘The Lioness.’ Aldana’s durability and renowned knockout power have led many to believe that she could end Nunes’ reign as champion.
In the co-main event, Charles Oliveira last competed in October 2022, suffering a second-round submission loss to Islam in their UFC lightweight title matchup.
Meanwhile, Beneil is currently on an eight-fight winning streak, with his most recent victory being a unanimous decision win against Mateusz Gamrot in October 2022.
UFC fails to recognize Oliveira vs Daruish magnitude
The upcoming clash between former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira and top-tier contender Beneil Dariush is widely regarded as a pivotal fight in the 155-pound division.
The consensus is that the winner of the Oliveira-Dariush showdown could earn the next opportunity to challenge UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev for the title at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on October 21, 2023.
Which UFC 289 event are you most hyped for? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
