Tag: Beneil Dariush

Chael Sonnen predicts landslide victory for Beneil Dariush at UFC 289: ‘Oliveira does not win a round’

Chael SonnenChael Sonnen does not see Charles Oliveira winning a single round against Beneil Dariush on Saturday night. ‘Do Bronx’ will return to the Octagon at UFC 289 for the first time since being handed a one-sided submission loss at the hands of reigning lightweight world champion Islam Makhachev in October. Looking to bounce back and […]

Chael Sonnen

Chael Sonnen does not see Charles Oliveira winning a single round against Beneil Dariush on Saturday night.

‘Do Bronx’ will return to the Octagon at UFC 289 for the first time since being handed a one-sided submission loss at the hands of reigning lightweight world champion Islam Makhachev in October. Looking to bounce back and potentially earn himself another opportunity to reclaim the 155-pound crown, Oliveira is set to square off with streaking lightweight contender Beneil Dariush.

Dariush goes into the bout as a moderate favorite, hovering around -150 on most sportsbooks. But if you ask Chael Sonnen, things will be much more decisive in Saturday’s co-main event.

“I officially predict that we have not heard the last of this fight, that the X’s and O’s are not overly close. I officially predict Charles Oliveira does not win a round,” Sonnen predicted during a recent episode of his Beyond the Fight YouTube series. “I’m not looking to be a jerk. I think Oliveira is just a wonderful fighter, this is another category. There are many fighters that believe Dariush is going to beat Islam.”

“If Benny’s as good as people say he is, and we never know that’s why we have to go to the fight, but if he is… Islam vs Charles was not competitive, not remotely competitive. It was uncompetitive to the point I don’t believe this is a number one contender’s match” (h/t MiddleEasy).

Chael Sonnen Believes Charles Oliveira Wants Nothing to Do with Islam Makhachev

Beneil Dariush rides into the Great White North on the back of an eight-fight win streak dating back to 2018, including victories against Tony Ferguson and Mateusz Gamrot in his last two appearances. With a win over ‘Do Bronx’ at UFC 289, Dariush will be all but guaranteed his first crack at UFC gold. That task might be easier than expected according to Chael Sonnen, who suspects Oliveira wants no piece of a rematch with Islam Makhachev and will bring his less-than-best as a result.

“The fact that we’re told Charles was offered a rematch with Islam and turned it down lets us know that at least in that moment that wasn’t the case,” Sonnen continued. “There’s nothing wrong with what Oliveira is saying. You’ve got to make a case for you. You got to make your stand somewhere, be careful what you let into your bubble. I don’t have any problem with any of it but as an outsider looking in, I don’t believe it. I also don’t believe that he believes it. It puts you in a very interesting spot.

“Based on everything we know, we really only know one thing. Charles has made it very clear he does not want to fight Islam. Charles didn’t want to fight Islam the first time because of the location… There are things that Charles doesn’t want so how do you get the motivation to beat Benny when your reward is a match with a guy you don’t want to fight?”

UFC 289 emanates from Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The event is scheduled to be headlined by a women’s bantamweight world title fight as reigning champion Amanda Nunes defends her crown against Mexico’s Irene Aldana.

Do you agree with Chael Sonnen’s assessment of the UFC 289 co-main event?

Beneil Dariush doubts Dustin Poirier’s chances to win at UFC 291: ‘I think he’s a little too comfortable’

Beneil Dariush doubts Dustin Poirier can win at UFC 291 I think he's gotten too comfortableAhead of his incoming UFC 289 co-headliner this weekend, surging lightweight contender, Beneil Dariush has doubted the chances of success of former interim division champion, Dustin Poirier next month ahead of his UFC 291 BMF championship rematch with Justin Gaethje. Dariush, the current #4 ranked lightweight contender, is slated to co-headline UFC 289 this weekend […]

Beneil Dariush doubts Dustin Poirier can win at UFC 291 I think he's gotten too comfortable

Ahead of his incoming UFC 289 co-headliner this weekend, surging lightweight contender, Beneil Dariush has doubted the chances of success of former interim division champion, Dustin Poirier next month ahead of his UFC 291 BMF championship rematch with Justin Gaethje.

Dariush, the current #4 ranked lightweight contender, is slated to co-headline UFC 289 this weekend in Vancouver, Canada, taking on former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira at the Rogers Arena. 

Last time out, the Iranian-born grappler turned in his seventh consecutive victory at UFC 280 last October, securing a hugely one-sided unanimous decision triumph over former two-weight KSW champion, Mateusz Gamrot.

As for Poirier, the Lafayette native most recently featured on the main card of UFC 281 in November, scoring a third round rear-naked choke submission win over Michael Chandler at Madison Square Garden.

And next month, atop a UFC 291 pay-per-view card in Salt Lake City, Utah – Poirier rematches fellow former interim lightweight titleholder, Gaethje at the Delta Center – with symbolic BMF spoils on the line.

Beneil Dariush looks to earn his first title challenge this weekend at UFC 289

Despite opening as a betting favorite to defeat Gaethje next month in Utah, Dariush claims “comfort” may have taken a foothold on Poirier, picking former training partner, Gaethje to defeat the Louisianan.

“I think if you’re practical, you go with Dustin Poirier because of the last fight [with Justin Gaethje],” Beneil Dariush said during an interview with MMA Fighting. “I would say this – right now, I would say Justin Gaethje seems more hungry, more focused.”

“Dustin Poirier, I think he’s made a lot of money, he’s done his thing,” Beneil Dariush explained. “He seems a little bit more comfortable, and comfort’s the greatest enemy of progress. I think Dustin Poirier is a little too comfortable but I could be wrong. He could definitely show up and show me that I’m wrong.” 

Beneil Dariush doubts Dustin Poirier’s chances to win at UFC 291: ‘I think he’s a little too comfortable’

Beneil Dariush doubts Dustin Poirier can win at UFC 291 I think he's gotten too comfortableAhead of his incoming UFC 289 co-headliner this weekend, surging lightweight contender, Beneil Dariush has doubted the chances of success of former interim division champion, Dustin Poirier next month ahead of his UFC 291 BMF championship rematch with Justin Gaethje. Dariush, the current #4 ranked lightweight contender, is slated to co-headline UFC 289 this weekend […]

Beneil Dariush doubts Dustin Poirier can win at UFC 291 I think he's gotten too comfortable

Ahead of his incoming UFC 289 co-headliner this weekend, surging lightweight contender, Beneil Dariush has doubted the chances of success of former interim division champion, Dustin Poirier next month ahead of his UFC 291 BMF championship rematch with Justin Gaethje.

Dariush, the current #4 ranked lightweight contender, is slated to co-headline UFC 289 this weekend in Vancouver, Canada, taking on former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira at the Rogers Arena. 

Last time out, the Iranian-born grappler turned in his seventh consecutive victory at UFC 280 last October, securing a hugely one-sided unanimous decision triumph over former two-weight KSW champion, Mateusz Gamrot.

As for Poirier, the Lafayette native most recently featured on the main card of UFC 281 in November, scoring a third round rear-naked choke submission win over Michael Chandler at Madison Square Garden.

And next month, atop a UFC 291 pay-per-view card in Salt Lake City, Utah – Poirier rematches fellow former interim lightweight titleholder, Gaethje at the Delta Center – with symbolic BMF spoils on the line.

Beneil Dariush looks to earn his first title challenge this weekend at UFC 289

Despite opening as a betting favorite to defeat Gaethje next month in Utah, Dariush claims “comfort” may have taken a foothold on Poirier, picking former training partner, Gaethje to defeat the Louisianan.

“I think if you’re practical, you go with Dustin Poirier because of the last fight [with Justin Gaethje],” Beneil Dariush said during an interview with MMA Fighting. “I would say this – right now, I would say Justin Gaethje seems more hungry, more focused.”

“Dustin Poirier, I think he’s made a lot of money, he’s done his thing,” Beneil Dariush explained. “He seems a little bit more comfortable, and comfort’s the greatest enemy of progress. I think Dustin Poirier is a little too comfortable but I could be wrong. He could definitely show up and show me that I’m wrong.” 

Charles Oliveira laughs off Beneil Dariush’s prediction for UFC 289: ‘If he thinks he’ll dominate me, he’s wrong’

Charles Oliveira laughs at Beneil Dariush prediction for UFC 289 he is wrongFormer undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira has laughed off predictions of a dominant display from Beneil Dariush en route to a victory at UFC 289 this weekend, denying the Iranian will find it all his own way in their co-main event slot. Oliveira, the current #1 ranked lightweight contender, has been sidelined since October of […]

Charles Oliveira laughs at Beneil Dariush prediction for UFC 289 he is wrong

Former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira has laughed off predictions of a dominant display from Beneil Dariush en route to a victory at UFC 289 this weekend, denying the Iranian will find it all his own way in their co-main event slot.

Oliveira, the current #1 ranked lightweight contender, has been sidelined since October of last year, most recently headlining UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi, UAE – seeing his 12-fight winning run halted against Islam Makhachev in the pair’s vacant lightweight title fight.

On the same card, Kings MMA staple, Dariush managed to secure his seventh consecutive victory – landing himself a one-sided unanimous decision success against former two-weight KSW champion, Mateusz Gamrot in the Middle East – earning this weekend’s title-eliminator against former gold holder, Oliveira. 

And breaking down this weekend’s showdown with Oliveira, Dariush has predicted a one-sided success against the Brazilian – in rather dominant fashion to boot, citing a lack of “hunger” for the former.

“I think he (Charles Oliveira) didn’t start his camp when he should have,” Beneil Dariush said. “And then tried to catch up and probably overtrained, and that’s how he got injured.”

“I just think comfort is an enemy for athletes like us, and I think he’s (Charles Oliveira) gotten really comfortable. Obviously, he’s a wealthy guy now and he’s living good. I think those are things that can cause you some problems – cause you to lack desire, basically. I think that’s something that could take place in his life.”

Charles Oliveira laughs off Beneil Dariush’s prediction for their UFC 289 fight

Laughing off Dariush’s prediction of a one-sided victory this weekend, Oliveira has insisted he will be the one leaving Vancouver, British Columbia with a win in tow.

“(Beneil) Dariush is a great fighter,” Charles Oliveira said during a recent interview with Sports Illustrated. “He’s one of the best in the world. If he thinks he will dominate me, he is wrong. I will be the one leaving with my hand raised.” 

Without a victory since May of last year, Oliveira managed to submit former interim gold holder, Justin Gaethje with a one-sided opening round rear-naked choke in the main event of UFC 274 in Phoenix, Arizona. 

Beneil Dariush uninterested in future UFC title bout with Dustin Poirier: ‘He doesn’t really wanna fight me’

Beneil Dariush uninterested in fight with Dustin Poirier UFC title he doesn't want toPlotting his first siege at undisputed lightweight gold in October with a victory over former gold holder, Charles Oliveira at UFC 289 this weekend, surging division contender, Beneil Dariush has scoffed at the possibility of defending spoils against Dustin Poirier, claiming the Lafayette native has avoided a fight with him. Dariush, who has won seven […]

Beneil Dariush uninterested in fight with Dustin Poirier UFC title he doesn't want to

Plotting his first siege at undisputed lightweight gold in October with a victory over former gold holder, Charles Oliveira at UFC 289 this weekend, surging division contender, Beneil Dariush has scoffed at the possibility of defending spoils against Dustin Poirier, claiming the Lafayette native has avoided a fight with him.

Dariush, who has won seven straight, puts his undefeated streak on the line this weekend in the co-maine event of UFC 289 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – drawing the current #1 ranked contender, Oliveira in a championship-eliminator.

In the night’s headliner, two-weight champion, Amanda Nunes defends her undisputed bantamweight title against Mexican challenger, Irene Aldana in the promotion’s return to ‘The Great White North’.

Sidelined since featuring on the main card of UFC 280 last October, Dariush featured against former two-weight KSW champion, Mateusz Gamrot, landing a one-sided unanimous decision victory against the Polish contender.

Beneil Dariush distances himself from fight with Dustin Poirier

Weighing up a future title fight with current division gold holder, Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 in October, Dariush – who will battle for contention against both Poirier and Justin Gaethje who are set to rematch at UFC 291 next month, has little interest in a title fight – should he strike gold against the Louisana striker.

“Shoot, I haven’t hought about it, to be honest with you,” Beneil Dariush told Submission Radio of a future fight with Dustin Poirier. “If he wins, do we really need to fight? I mean, he’s not interested, right? He doesn’t really wanna fight me. So, yeah, I mean, he’ll be the bMF champion, maybe he’ll go on and defend that belt and I’ll fight somebody else.”

“I don’t know,” Beneil Dariush explained. “We’ll see what the UFC says. But if he’s not pushing to fight me if I’m the champion, then at this point I’m just – I’m over it. You know. I really do wanna fight the next generation, these young contenders. But if it’s Dustin Poirier, it’s Dustin Poirier.”