Tag: Beneil Dariush

Beneil Dariush: The UFC Offered Me Makhachev Matchup For UFC 267

UFC lightweight contender Beneil Dariush has revealed that the UFC had hoped to book his matchup with Islam Makhachev for this year.

Dariush’s rise towards the top of the 155-pound ladder has certainly been memorable. Since losses to Edson Barboza …

Beneil Dariush, Islam Makhachev

UFC lightweight contender Beneil Dariush has revealed that the UFC had hoped to book his matchup with Islam Makhachev for this year.

Dariush’s rise towards the top of the 155-pound ladder has certainly been memorable. Since losses to Edson Barboza and Alexander Hernandez, the 32-year-old has built a seven-fight winning streak, which includes submission wins against Drew Dober and Frank Camacho, highlight-reel knockouts of Drakkar Klose and Scott Holtzman, and a display of total dominance against former interim champion Tony Ferguson.

Now ranked #3 in the division and seemingly just one step from a meeting in the Octagon with the champion, Dariush will look to secure his first title shot when he faces Makhachev. The pair are set to collide in the main event of a UFC Fight Night on February 26.

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A Fight Months In The Making

Despite the booking being targeted for the second month of 2022, Dariush has revealed that the promotion’s original plan was for the two top-five contenders to meet in Abu Dhabi at UFC 267.

During an appearance on DC & RC, the Iranian-born American told Daniel Cormier that he was unable to make the Abu-Dhabi-held event due to the birth of his child. While he’d initially hoped to push the matchup back to December, the UFC were keen to have Makhachev appear on Fight Island.

“Man, I’m stoked. Big respect to Islam and Khabib and that team, they’re one of the best teams right now in the game. It was kinda hard getting this matchup because obviously, our manager (Ali Abdelaziz) was like, ‘You guys are the best in the division, I want you guys fighting for the title,’ and also, the timing for the last fight, for Islam, he needed to do Abu Dhabi, and I just had a baby, so I couldn’t do Abu Dhabi. I told them I could do December, and they said no, he had to be there. So it was a little bit tricky, but I’m stoked for this fight man. Islam is so good. He’s one of the best guys, if not the best.”

When questioned on the failed plans, Dariush revealed that UFC President Dana White had proposed the fight with Makhachev after the surging Dagestani submitted Thiago Moisés in the main event of UFC Vegas 31 in July.

“Remember when Islam fought Thiago Moisés? Dana said, ‘Hey, I want him to fight Dariush.’ And I was like, ‘Man, if we could do December, that makes perfect sense for me. Let’s go.’ And I found out that Islam had to do October 30 for Abu Dhabi because he has such a big fanbase and they love him over there and they had to have him over there, which I was like, ‘Alright, I understand but like, I just had a baby, I have no clue what I’m doing.'”

In the end, Makhachev faced Dan Hooker at UFC 267 after original opponent Rafael dos Anjos withdrew through injury. With a brutal first-round kimura, the 30-yar-old burst into title contention and eventually set up a clash with the equally in-form Dariush.

How do you think the fight between Beneil Dariush and Islam Makhachev will play out?

Continue Reading Beneil Dariush: The UFC Offered Me Makhachev Matchup For UFC 267 at MMA News.

Dariush: Of Course I’m Going To Grapple With Makhachev

Beneil Dariush is not shying away from the grappling of lightweight boogeyman Islam Makhachev.

As the close friend and protégé to former champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev has put his grappling skills to use to dispatch the best fighters he could…

Beneil Dariush Islam Makhachev

Beneil Dariush is not shying away from the grappling of lightweight boogeyman Islam Makhachev.

As the close friend and protégé to former champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev has put his grappling skills to use to dispatch the best fighters he could face en route to a nine-fight win streak. While there was some talk about him fighting for the title next, he will instead face top contender Dariush, who is riding his own respectable seven-fight streak.

With the immense skill level that Makhachev possesses when fights go to the mats, one might expect Dariush to make an attempt to keep the fight standing. However, he explained in an interview with RT Sport that he is fully expecting to grapple with the Dagestani and is not afraid of the fight going to the ground.

“I don’t really think too much about Islam think — I think about me” Dariush said (h/t MMAJunkie). “What do I do in my fights? I’m a grappler, obviously, so l’m not going to be like, ‘Oh, he’s a grappler — I can’t grapple’ Of course l’m going to try and grapple. I know how to strike, so of course I’m going to use my striking. I’m not a person where feel like, ‘Oh, I have to do this in order to win the fight.’ I feel comfortable everywhere. So if I want to wrestle, I’ll wrestle. If I want to strike, I’ll strike. If I want to counter, I’ll counter. I can do all things, so I’m not worried about it.

“A lot of people say we mirror each other because we’re both southpaw. We’re almost the same height — I think he’s a little bit taller than me — and if I don’t get too crazy, I try to be also very methodical. So there’s definitely a mirror there,” Dariush added.

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The mindset that Beneil Dariush has is the confidence that you would hope to see from someone taking on one of the most highly touted prospects in the sport today. Time will tell if that ends up backfiring when he faces Islam Makhachev on February 26th.

Continue Reading Dariush: Of Course I’m Going To Grapple With Makhachev at MMA News.

Khabib: ‘Islam Makhachev, Beneil Dariush Are Better Than Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje’

Khabib NurmagomedovFormer undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov has had high praise for upcoming headlines, top-5 contenders, Beneil Dariush and teammate, Islam Makhachev — claiming that both of them are currently better than former interim lightweight titleholders, past-foes, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje. Khabib, who officially announced his retirement from professional mixed martial arts 13 months […]

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Former undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov has had high praise for upcoming headlines, top-5 contenders, Beneil Dariush and teammate, Islam Makhachev — claiming that both of them are currently better than former interim lightweight titleholders, past-foes, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje.

Khabib, who officially announced his retirement from professional mixed martial arts 13 months ago following a title unification submission win against Gaethje, also officially vacated the lightweight crown in March — with Charles Oliveira scooping the title courtesy of a knockout win over Michael Chandler in May.

With Oliveira slated to make his first attempted defense of the lightweight crown next month to round out the pay-per-view portion of UFC 269, the Sao Paulo finisher meets with the aforenoted former interim gold holder, Poirier — who enters the title showdown off the back of a pair of 2021 victories over Conor McGregor. 

With Poirier next in line for the title, the above mentioned, Gaethje managed to secure his spot as challenger in waiting off the back of his unanimous judging Fight of the Year contender opposite Chandler at the beginning of November at UFC 269.

Khabib Nurmagomedov claims both Islam Makhachev and Beneil Dariush are better than Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje

However, both Dariush and Makhachev have both staked their respective claims for shots at lightweight spoils in the midst of lengthy winning sprees. But one of the two will fall to the wayside come February next year — with the pair jotting their names to stand opposite each other on a February 26. UFC Fight Night headlining slot. 

Providing his thoughts on the landscape of the lightweight title picture, Khabib claimed that while both Poirier and Gaethje were undeniable title challenger, in his opinion, both Dariush and Makhachev are better than them both.

“Any of them, like Islam (Makhachev) and (Beneil) Dariush — they deserve to fight for the title, right now,” Khabib Nurmagomedov told ESPN MMA. “But, we have like, some big names on lightweight, like you know, you cannot say no for Dustin Poirier or Justin Gaethje. These two guys, they have very big name.“

“But like fighters, in my opinion, they better, like Dariush and Islam, they better than Dustin and Justin, it’s just my opinion, you know,” Khabib Nurmagomedov continued. “But, they have big-name — we know this game, and sometimes it’s not enough like. Nine win streak or seven win streak, it’s not enough to fight for the title, you know. Sometimes you have to build your name, you know.“

Khabib and Gaethje’s manager, Dominance MMA leader, Ali Abdelaziz recently claimed that is likely Gaethje will challenge for lightweight gold in May of next year following his Madison Square Garden victory over Chandler. And without getting too far ahead of the picture, the victor between Dariush and Makhachev would likely find themselves as the next challenger in waiting. 

Islam Makhachev vs. Beneil Dariush Agreed For February 26

islam makhachevIt was recently announced that UFC lightweights Islam Makhachev and Beneil Dariush have agreed to fight in a five-round, main event on a UFC Fight Night, February 26th. ESPN reporter Brett Okamoto took to social media to break the news of what appears to be a number one contender fight. The Background Of Islam Makhachev […]

islam makhachev

It was recently announced that UFC lightweights Islam Makhachev and Beneil Dariush have agreed to fight in a five-round, main event on a UFC Fight Night, February 26th.

ESPN reporter Brett Okamoto took to social media to break the news of what appears to be a number one contender fight.

The Background Of Islam Makhachev v Beneil Dariush

The fight will pit number three ranked Dariush and number four Makachev in which the winner will have a strong argument for a title shot after front runner Justin Gaethje.

Both fighters will be coming into this on impressive winning streaks, Dariush is currently riding a seven-fight win streak; with wins over the likes of Tony Ferguson, Drew Dober and Thiago Moises. While Makachev will be coming in with a nine-fight win streak with wins over Gleison Tibau, Drew Dober and Dan Hooker.

Although both men have had success in the build-up, there is a disparity in top-level experience. Dariush has been competing with the likes of Jim Miller since 2015. Although Dariush has had some losses, these have been against the likes of Edson Barboza. He also has other impressive names on his record such as Michael Johnson and James Vick and has seemed to have really found his footing as of late.

Makhachev on the other has only begun to face ranked opponents in 2021 and finds himself in the number four in the world but he has not beaten a top-five ranked opponent. Although Makhachev has not faced the highest level of competition for a long time he has been dominant since the first loss of his career. This was on display when he faced at the time number six ranked Dan Hooker, taking down and submitting the New Zealander in the first round.

What do you think? How do you see Islam Makhachev v Beneil Dariush going?

Bobby Green Replaces Beneil Dariush To Face Makhachev Feb. 26

Bobby Green will be replacing Beneil Dariush to face Islam Makhachev in the new UFC Fight Night main event on February 26. Ariel Helwani was the first to break the news of Dariush pulling out of the fight. Dariush is citing an ankle injury as the reason for his withdrawal. Hours later, ESPN confirmed that…

Continue Reading Bobby Green Replaces Beneil Dariush To Face Makhachev Feb. 26 at MMA News.

Bobby Green will be replacing Beneil Dariush to face Islam Makhachev in the new UFC Fight Night main event on February 26.

Ariel Helwani was the first to break the news of Dariush pulling out of the fight. Dariush is citing an ankle injury as the reason for his withdrawal. Hours later, ESPN confirmed that Bobby Green will serve as Dariush’s replacement in what will now be a catchweight bout at 160 lbs.

The Feb. 26 headliner between Makhachev and Dariush was expected by many to serve as a lightweight title eliminator to determine who would challenge champion Charles Oliveira next.

Beneil Dariush has won seven consecutive fights and was considered to be a very challenging stylistic matchup for Makhachev. Dariush has proven that he is more than willing to stand and bang with bonus-worthy performances, but what made this pairing most intriguing is the fact that Dariush is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and is considered one of the best grapplers in the UFC. Given Makhachev’s grappling-heavy style, this match was considered a strong example of “something’s gotta give.”

Islam Makhachev is currently enjoying an incredible nine-fight winning streak. A win here would have not only made for a 10th straight victory but would have finally included that elusive win over a top-5 opponent that many have demanded of him. During this winning streak, Makhachev has defeated names like Thiago Moisés, Drew Dober, and most recently Dan Hooker.

Scouring the scoring: Round 3 of UFC 265's Bobby Green vs. Rafael Fiziev - Bloody Elbow
Bobby Green

Enter Bobby Green. Green is currently unranked but he has just turned in two exceptional back-to-back performances, including TKOing Al Iaquinta in the first round at UFC 268 and then putting on a striking showcase at the expense of Nasrat Hasparast last weekend at UFC 271.

Coincidentally, the UFC 271 commentating team had lobbied for Bobby Green to be booked in his first UFC main event. Perhaps the MMA gods listened as this idea gained public backing before they granted their own official approval.

While it is unclear if a win for Makhachev would be enough for a title shot, it is certain that a win for Bobby Green here would be career-changing and earn him a strong presence in the lightweight rankings.

Who do you think will win between Islam Makhachev and Bobby Green on February 26?

Continue Reading Bobby Green Replaces Beneil Dariush To Face Makhachev Feb. 26 at MMA News.

Gaethje Title Shot & Makhachev vs. Dariush Are Likely Next Per Manager

According to the manager of all three fighters, the UFC’s plans for Justin Gaethje, Islam Makhachev, and Beneil Dariush may now be revealed.

Following a pair of significant bouts in the lightweight title picture, Islam Makhachev defeating Dan Hooke…

Beneil Dariush, Islam Makhachev, Justin Gaethje

According to the manager of all three fighters, the UFC’s plans for Justin Gaethje, Islam Makhachev, and Beneil Dariush may now be revealed.

Following a pair of significant bouts in the lightweight title picture, Islam Makhachev defeating Dan Hooker at UFC 267 and Justin Gaethje defeating Michael Chandler at UFC 268, there has been much debate and speculation on who will receive the next title shot.

The loudest voice in the room has been Gaethje. The American has insisted that his bout against Chandler was a title eliminator. He also believes that since he is the highest-ranked person in the queue, he deserves the next shot.

Meanwhile, Islam Makhachev and his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov are among those who have countered Gaethje by reminding him that he has already had an opportunity just one fight ago when Nurmgomadov submitted him at UFC 254. Gaethje responded by ordering Makhachev to ‘do his job’ and fight Beneil Dariush.

Although Makhachev voiced his preference of going to war with Gaethje instead, their manager, Ali Abdelaziz, told TMZ that the current expectation is for Gaethje’s vision of what should happen to align with the UFC’s plans.

“Justin Gaethje is going to be next,” Abdelaziz said. “Probably, Beneil Dariush is going to fight Islam Makhachev. Probably, you are going to see Beneil Dariush fight Islam Makhachev and Justin Gaethje is going to fight for the title probably in May.”

Purely from a rankings perspective, this course of action makes sense. Gaethje is ranked #2, with current #1 contender Dustin Poirier set to challenge champion Charles Oliveira next month at UFC 269. Next, Dariush and Makhachev are ranked #3 and #4 respectively.

Dariush last defeated Tony Ferguson in May at UFC 262 to make for seven consecutive victories. That mark is two shy of Makhachev’s incredible nine-fight winning streak.

MMA News will keep you informed on if these fights become official or if there are any other updates regarding the lightweight title picture.

Continue Reading Gaethje Title Shot & Makhachev vs. Dariush Are Likely Next Per Manager at MMA News.