Tag: Beneil Dariush

Beneil Dariush weighs up retirement amid UFC Austin knockout loss: ‘Do I go forward or am I done?’

Beneil Dariush weighs up retirement after UFC Austin loss am I donePerennial lightweight contender, Beneil Dariush has revealed he is currently weighing-up his fighting future in mixed martial arts, off…

Beneil Dariush weighs up retirement after UFC Austin loss am I done

Perennial lightweight contender, Beneil Dariush has revealed he is currently weighing-up his fighting future in mixed martial arts, off the back of his second consecutive opening round knockout loss, dropping a devastating defeat to Arman Tsarukyan inside the opening minute of their UFC Austin main event at the beginning of the month.

Dariush, the current number seven ranked lightweight contender, headlined the promotion’s return to Texas earlier this month against Armenian contender, Tsarukyan, suffering his second consecutive defeat in the form of a blistering knockout loss inside the opening minute of their clash.

The defeat came as Dariush’s second on the trot, having dropped a first round ground strikes TKO loss to former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira in the pair’s championship-eliminator at UFC 289 back in June of this year.

Beneil Dariush weighs up fighting future

And off the back of his crushing loss to Tsarukyan, Kings MMA staple, Dariush admitted he is weighing-up his immediate future in the sport.

“I’m just trying to figure out, like, do I go forward? Or am I done kind of deal?” Beneil Dariush told Submission Radio. “‘Cause I’m not trying to be like a 50-50 fighter or even a top-10 fighter. I’m trying to be the number one in the world. I want to be the best, and I’m not going to settle for anything less than that. So, yeah, I guess just that’s how I deal with it.”

“I got back to prayer and see what the Lord kind of shows me,” Beneil Dariush explained. “Last time, I had a lot of issues physically with my neck and just, I said I would solve those issues and then go back into the Octagon and see how that goes. And I did that. I had a big change in my performance. I went from being 0-3 to like 8-0. And so, the neck made a big difference. But this time I don’t have any health issues. My neck is pretty good, overall. I don’t have any issues with it. So, it’s a different spot I’m in than I was back then.”

What do you think Beneil Dariush does next post-UFC Austin? 

A Dozen UFC Austin Fighters, including Bobby Green and Beneil Dariush, hit with six-Month medical suspension

UFC AustinUFC Austin delivered some of the biggest knockouts of 2023. Unfortunately, that also means that a lot of medical…

UFC Austin

UFC Austin delivered some of the biggest knockouts of 2023. Unfortunately, that also means that a lot of medical suspensions were handed out.

Following last weekend’s return to The Lone Star State, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) slapped a dozen fighters on the night with a six-month month medical suspension. Most notably, Bobby Green, Beneil Dariush, and Arman Tsarukyan were all given 180 days unless medically cleared.

Tsarukyan walked away the winner in the UFC Austin headliner, scoring a 64-second knockout against Dariush to establish himself as the next legitimate contender in the light heavyweight division.

Bobby Green found himself on the wrong side of a first-round finish at UFC Austin, suffering a brutal beating at the hands of rising 155’er Jalin Turner.

The referee overseeing the contest, Kerry Hatley, was heavily criticized for allowing the fight to go on entirely too long. UFC CEO Dana White called it one of the worst stoppages he had ever seen. Michael Bisping, who was on call for the event, agreed.

You can see a full list of the UFC Austin medical suspensions below:

  • Arman Tsarukyan: Suspended a minimum of 30 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Beneil Dariush: Suspended a minimum of 60 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Jalin Turner: Suspended until Dec. 10.
  • Bobby Green: Suspended a minimum of 60 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Deiveson Figueiredo: Suspended until Dec. 17.
  • Rob Font: Suspended until Jan. 2, 2024.
  • Sean Brady: Suspended at minimum until Dec. 12, and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Kelvin Gastelum: Suspended until Dec. 12.
  • Joaquim Silva: Suspended a minimum of 60 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Clay Guida: Suspended a minimum of 30 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Dustin Stoltzfus: Suspended until Dec. 10.
  • Punahele Soriano: Suspended until Dec. 10.
  • Miesha Tate: Suspended a minimum of 30 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Julia Avila: Suspended a minimum of 45 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Cody Brundage: Suspended until Dec. 10.
  • Zachary Reese: Suspended a minimum of 30 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Drakkar Klose: Suspended until Dec. 10.
  • Joe Solecki: Suspended until Feb. 1, 2024.
  • Rodolfo Bellato: Suspended a minimum of 30 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Ihor Potieria: Suspended until Feb. 1, 2024.
  • Jared Gooden: Suspended a minimum of 45 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Wellington Turman: Suspended a minimum of 45 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Veronica Hardy: Suspended until Dec. 12.
  • Jamey-Lyn Horth: Suspended until Jan. 2, 2024.

It should be noted that fighters often return long before serving out the full length of their medical suspensions, so long as they are cleared by a licensed physician.

Which UFC Austin finish was your favorite?

List courtesy of MMA Fighting

5 Fights We Need to See After UFC Fight Night 233

On Saturday night, the UFC returned to Austin, Texas, with UFC Fight Night 233—arguably the best Fight Night card of the year to date. Headlining honours for…

On Saturday night, the UFC returned to Austin, Texas, with UFC Fight Night 233—arguably the best Fight Night card of the year to date. Headlining honours for…

5 Fights We Need to See After UFC Fight Like Hell Night

On Saturday night, the UFC returned to Austin, Texas, with UFC Fight Night 233—arguably the best Fight Night card of the year to date. Headlining honours for…

On Saturday night, the UFC returned to Austin, Texas, with UFC Fight Night 233—arguably the best Fight Night card of the year to date. Headlining honours for…

Arman Tsarukyan promises KO win over Islam Makhachev in title rematch after brutal UFC Austin Win

Arman TsarukyanArman Tsarukyan sent a message to reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev following his stunning 64-second knockout of Beneil Dariush…

Arman Tsarukyan

Arman Tsarukyan sent a message to reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev following his stunning 64-second knockout of Beneil Dariush at UFC Austin.

Going into his contest with Dariush, ‘Ahalkalakets’ was sitting as the No. 8 ranked lightweight in the world, come Monday, he’ll see himself in the top five, moving him significantly closer to a potential rematch with Makhachev. Following his first-round destruction of Dariush in The Lone Star State, Arman Tsarukyan sent a message to the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ letting him know that their title tilt won’t end the same way as their first meeting.

“I was 22 years old [when I first fought Makhachev],” Tsarukyan said. “Now I’m 27. I got improved. The next fight is going to be a different one. I’m going to knock him out.”

Arman Tsarukyan Could Be waiting a While for his lightweight title opportunity

Meeting in April 2019, Makhachev scored a decisive unanimous decision victory over Tsarukyan. Makhachev is currently on a 13-fight win streak which includes his world title-winning performance against Charles Oliveira last year and back-to-back defenses against featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski.

Tsarukyan has now won eight of his last nine and could very well be one big win away from a long-awaited title opportunity. Unfortunately, even with his big win over Dariush, Tsarukyan could still be waiting for quite a while with both Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje awaiting their own shot at the 155-pound crown.

Arman Tsarukyan promises KO win over Islam Makhachev in title rematch after brutal UFC Austin Win

Arman TsarukyanArman Tsarukyan sent a message to reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev following his stunning 64-second knockout of Beneil Dariush…

Arman Tsarukyan

Arman Tsarukyan sent a message to reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev following his stunning 64-second knockout of Beneil Dariush at UFC Austin.

Going into his contest with Dariush, ‘Ahalkalakets’ was sitting as the No. 8 ranked lightweight in the world, come Monday, he’ll see himself in the top five, moving him significantly closer to a potential rematch with Makhachev. Following his first-round destruction of Dariush in The Lone Star State, Arman Tsarukyan sent a message to the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ letting him know that their title tilt won’t end the same way as their first meeting.

“I was 22 years old [when I first fought Makhachev],” Tsarukyan said. “Now I’m 27. I got improved. The next fight is going to be a different one. I’m going to knock him out.”

Arman Tsarukyan Could Be waiting a While for his lightweight title opportunity

Meeting in April 2019, Makhachev scored a decisive unanimous decision victory over Tsarukyan. Makhachev is currently on a 13-fight win streak which includes his world title-winning performance against Charles Oliveira last year and back-to-back defenses against featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski.

Tsarukyan has now won eight of his last nine and could very well be one big win away from a long-awaited title opportunity. Unfortunately, even with his big win over Dariush, Tsarukyan could still be waiting for quite a while with both Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje awaiting their own shot at the 155-pound crown.