Former UFC lightweight Champion eyeing a return to the track

MMA fans worldwide will have their eyes on Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada, when UFC 289 takes place. The harness racing world should also have eyes on the event as Charles Oliveira is looking to reclaim his spot as the number one lightweight contender in the world.

Oliveira is the former UFC lightweight champion, but he is also a considerable harness racing enthusiast. As he prepares to battle Irani fighter Beneil Dariush in Saturday’s co-main event, Oliveira also dropped the news he will be attending another major event in September.

Nick Walshaw from Fox Sports broke the news the former UFC champion will be attending the inaugural $2 million TAB Eureka and had agreed to take on Australia’s Luke McCarthy in a match race. This would be another chance for Oliveira to try on the racing silks since he beat Hall of Fame driver Tim Tetrick in 2021.

Oliveira Versus Tetrick Replay 

The third-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has had a long MMA career and has found solace in harness racing. He has entered the octagon 43 times and left victorious on 33 occasions. Oliveira has owned horses for roughly six years and has loved every moment.

UFC 289 is available to watch through pay-per-view, and the main card starts at 10:00 p.m. EDT Saturday (June 10). Oliveira’s tilt against Dariush is the fourth of five fights on the main card and will be followed by the main event fight of Amanda Nunes versus Irene Aldana.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink