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Beneil Dariush targets title fight with Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 in October: ‘I think it’ll work out great’

Laying out plans for his first championship siege under the banner of the UFC later this year, surging lightweight contender, Beneil Dariush plans to “absolutely dominate” former champion, Charles Oliveira at UFC 289 in June – before turning around and fighting Islam Makhachev for gold at UFC 294 in October. Dariush, the current #4 ranked […]

Dariush, the current #4 ranked lightweight contender, is slated to co-headline UFC 289 in two weeks’ time – as the promotion returns to Vancouver, British Columbia – taking on Sao Paulo finisher, Oliveira in an expected title-eliminator at the weight class.

In the midst of an impressive seven-fight winning run, Iran-born contender, Beneil Dariush most recently competed at UFC 280 back in October of last year, landing a unanimous decision win over former two-weight KSW champion, Mateusz Gamrot in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The dominant decision win came off the back of other standout performances against the likes of former interim gold holder, Tony Ferguson, Diego Ferreira, Drakkar Klose, Drew Dober, and Thiago Moises.

Beneil Dariush eyes October turnaround against Islam Makhachev at UFC 294

Reacting to backing from Makhachev for a future rescheduled title fight, Dariush, who saw a fractured fibula rule him from a matchup with the Russian in February of last year, now plans to turnaround and fight the gold holder in the Middle East at UFC 294 in October.

“People will send me, you know, short clips of him (Islam Makhachev) saying that he thinks I’m gonna win the fight [against Charles Oliveira], and things like that,” Beneil Dariush told MMA Junkie. “It’s great. It’s building the fight right now, right?”

“So, Lord willing, I beat Charles (Oliveira) and we make the move back to Abu Dhabi and we have that fight [with Islam Makhachev] in Abu Dhabi. I think it’ll work out great if I could make the turnaround [in October], with no injuries or nothing like that.

Predicting a dominant victory over former champion, Oliveira en route to a title offing with Makhachev in the final quarter of this year, Dariush claims the Brazilian is likely “lacking desire” ahead of their UFC 289 battle.

“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.”

UFC rival claims ex-Champion Charles Oliveira is ‘Lacking desire’ ahead of return: ‘He’s gotten really comfortable’

Ahead of his Octagon return at UFC 289 in two weeks’ time, former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira has been touted as falling victim to a good lifestyle he has created for himself through his success, according to incoming opponent, Beneil Dariush. Oliveira, the current #1 ranked lightweight contender, is set to return to the […]

Oliveira, the current #1 ranked lightweight contender, is set to return to the Octagon next weekend, taking co-main event honors at UFC 289 in British Columbia, Canada – taking on the surging, Dariush in a title-eliminator at 155lbs.

The Sao Paulo grappler has been sidelined since he headlined UFC 280 back in October of last year in Abu Dhabi, UAE – seeing his division-best 12-fight winning run halted as he suffered a second round arm-triangle submission loss against Islam Makhachev in the pair’s vacant title affair.

And recently withdrawing from a scheduled UFC 288 co-main event against Dariush earlier this month, the promotion’s most prolific finisher and submission artist, will now drae the Iranian in June at UFC 289.

Charles Oliveira has fallen victim to comfort according to UFC 289 foe, Beneil Dariush

Clinching undisputed lightweight gold following a lengthy, topsy-turvy tenure in the UFC, Oliveira has been touted as likely falling victim to a lack of desire by Dariush, who claimed the Brazilian more than likely overtrained for their slated UFC 288, resulting in his injury setback.

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

Himself clinching vacant lightweight gold back in May of 2021, Oliveira stopped Michael Chandler with a blistering second round KO, before then securing his one and only successful title defense against Dustin Poirier in December of that year in a submission win.

Dropping his undisputed championship to the scales at UFC 274 last year, Oliveira was stripped of his title, before submitting championship hopeful, Justin Gaethje with a first round rear-naked choke, nevertheless.

Sean Strickland eyes future title fight with Israel Adesanya in UFC: ‘That one needs to happen’

Despite falling at the title-eliminator hurdle in anticipation of a middleweight title fight with current champion, Israel Adesanya last summer, Sean Strickland claims that a fight with the Nigerian-Kiwi most definitely needs to happen if he defeats Abusupiyan Magomedov in their upcoming UFC Vegas 76 headliner in July. Strickland, the current #7 ranked middleweight contender, […]

Strickland, the current #7 ranked middleweight contender, had enjoyed a stunning seven-fight winning run through division contenders up until last summer, dropping a thunderous first round KO loss to future middleweight champion, Alex Pereira in their championship-eliminator during International Fight Week.

In the time since, Strickland has suffered a close, debated decision loss to Jared Cannonier in a short-notice main event headliner toward the end of last year, before taking a dominant decision win of his own over Nassourdine Imavov in another impromptu headliner, this time at the light heavyweight limit.

Sean Strickland lays out path to a title showdown with Israel Adesanya

Facing off with Magomedov in a rather surprising main event clash to kick-off the UFC’s schedule for July, Strickland claimed that with a win over the Russian – he should be fighting Adesanya next.

“If this fight [with Abusupiyan Magomedov] goes my way, it 100 percent should be on the cards,” Sean Strickland said of a title fight with Israel Adesanya during an interview with MyMMANews. “I f*cking had a close decision with f*cking, what the f*ck was that guy’s name? Jared Cannoiner, you knocked some brain cells out of me. Solid guy. Thought I won on the scorecards but it is what it is.”

“I truly believe I should be the one fighting ‘Izzy’ (Israel Adesanya), but I lost [to Alex Pereira] fair and square,” Sean Strickland explained. “I’ll pay my tenants. I’ll get some W’s but yeah, that one needs to happen.”

Expected to make his Octagon return at UFC 293 in September in Sydney, Australia – Adesanya has welcomed a showdown ‘Down Under’, however, has yet to be booked for the pay-per-view event at the time of publication.

Jan Blachowicz willing to engage in UFC 291 firefight with Alex Pereira: ‘I want to check how my striking looks’

Former undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jan Blachowicz insists he will not shy away from a striking battle with renowned knockout artist Alex Pereira at UFC 291 in July – as he prepares to welcome the former middleweight champion to the light heavyweight division. Blachowic, a former undisputed light heavyweight champion, most recently featured in the […]

Blachowic, a former undisputed light heavyweight champion, most recently featured in the main event of UFC 282 back in December of last year, fighting to an eventual majority decision draw against Russian contender, Magomed Ankalaev in the pair’s vacant light heavyweight title fight.

As for Pereira, the Sao Paulo striker has yet to return to the Octagon since dropping the undisputed middleweight title against arch-rival, Israel Adesanya back in April in the main event of UFC 287, suffering a spectacular second round KO loss to the City Kickboxing staple.

Jan Blachowicz willing to stand and trade with KO artist, Alex Pereira in July

Drawing Polish veteran, Blachowicz in his light heavyweight division bow, Pereira is slated to have a willing striking partner according to the former himself, who claims he wants to test his own striking prowess against the Brazilian knockout artist.

“His (Alex Pereira) whole fighting career is just amazing,” Jan Blachowicz told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “I love to fight against a fighter like this because I don’t need to look for motivation to prepare for this kind of fighter.”

“That’s why I want him,” Jan Blachowicz explained. “I want to check my standup against him, (and) his standup. I want to check how I’m gonna look because he’s one of the best strikers in the world. This is something I want to know, how my striking is going to look against him.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

UFC 291 takes place on July 29. from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah – with a lightweight rematch between former interim division titleholders, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje slated to take main event honors.

Khamzat Chimaev claims Colby Covington is getting another UFC title opportunity because he’s American

Khamzat Chimaev believes Colby Covington’s undeserved welterweight title opportunity is the result of his nationality. Covington’s last appearance inside the Octagon came more than a year ago when he bested bitter rival Jorge Masvidal in a main event grudge match at UFC 272. After going 2-2 in his last four, both losses coming against then-welterweight […]

Khamzat Chimaev believes Colby Covington’s undeserved welterweight title opportunity is the result of his nationality.

Covington’s last appearance inside the Octagon came more than a year ago when he bested bitter rival Jorge Masvidal in a main event grudge match at UFC 272. After going 2-2 in his last four, both losses coming against then-welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, ‘Chaos’ has somehow found himself on the cusp of another UFC title fight. Dana White’s insistence that Covington was the next man in line led many MMA fans and fighters to cry foul as they failed to understand why Covington was the recipient of yet another title fight.

But for Khamzat Chimaev, the reasoning seems relatively clear. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the undefeated Chechen monster suggested that Covington’s inevitable title tilt with welterweight champ Leon Edwards was all based around the promotion desiring an American-born champion.

“I don’t know what UFC wants to do,” Chimaev said. “They give it to Colby that chance. When he win his last fight? I don’t remember. Who did he win against? Nobody. He’s a nobody, he wins against nobody. Usman broke his chin two times. He knocked down that guy.

“He is sh*t and they give that chance for him because maybe he’s from USA. They want the belt for him. I’m from Sweden, I live in Dubai, so maybe they don’t want to give that belt to me. So, only that thing I see. I don’t know what else. Maybe they have good plans for me, I don’t know. I trust that guys, so we’ll see (h/t BJPenn.com).

Khamzat Chimaev Could Return Against Former Champion Kamaru Usman

With six-straight wins inside the Octagon, including a unanimous decision victory over No. 5 ranked welterweight Gilbert Burns last year, Khamzat Chimaev has been lobbying for a UFC title opportunity, whether it be at welterweight or middleweight. Fans can expect to see ‘Borz’ return to the cage later this year as the promotion heads back to Abu Dhabi in October. Recent rumors suggest a fight with Kamaru Usman is on tap for this fall, but no official announcement has been made and likely won’t be until we get toward the end of summer. Should he come out on top in the potential clash, he will likely find himself as the next man in line for a title shot.

Meanwhile, Colby Covington has stayed busy calling out practically every fighter under the UFC banner since his emergence from the shadows in March. A date for his return against ‘Rocky’ is yet to be announced, but it is expected to go down before 2023 comes to a close.

Justin Gaethje laughs off BMF title rematch with Dustin Poirier at UFC 291: ‘I think it’s kind of stupid’

With fans and critics alike questioning the re-introduction of the symbolic BMF championship for this summer’s UFC 291 pay-per-view event, incoming ‘title’ challenger, Justin Gaethje has described the symbolic belt as “stupid” ahead of his rematch with Dustin Poirier. Slated to take headlining honors at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 29. […]

Slated to take headlining honors at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 29. from the Delta Center, former interim lightweight champion, Gaethje takes on fellow former interim gold holder, Poirier – in an attempt to avenge a prior defeat to the Louisanan.

Headlining UFC Fight Night Glendale back in April 2018 on home soil. Arizona fan-favorite, Gaethje suffered an eventual fourth round standing TKO loss to Poirier, as the latter continued his roughshod run en route to his eventual interim title win.

Dustin Poirier suggests a fight with Justin Gaethje is the “most violent” bout available in the UFC

Last time out, however, Gaethje managed to return to the winner’s enclosure in a Fight of the Year contender against Rafael Fiziev at UFC 286 in March, landing a close, majority decision win in the pair’s London co-main event clash.

And earning a rematch with rival, Poirier later this year, Gaethje – who will also compete for the symbolic BMF title, admitted that he thought the original introduction of the title was “stupid” back in 2019.

“My true assessment: When (Jorge) Masvidal and (Nate) Diaz fought for it, I was like, ‘This is stupid.’” Justin Gaethje told Cageside Press during a recent interview. “However, to the fans that say it’s stupid, I say that it’s ultimately the UFC giving one more fighter one more opportunity to win and to gain an opportunity to gain pay-per-view points. This belt, just like interim belts, on paper, are a championship. You are a champion in the eyes of the UFC, and when you are a champion in the eys of the UFC, you get paid different.”

“So, to the people who say it’s stupid it’s the UFC throwing a bone, like we always ask them to throw a bone and they never do,” Justin Gaethje explained. “So, I’m thankful there is an opportunity that I get to fight for. Especially because there is only one in the world. It’s a cool looking belt. I think it’s a little bit of a show, but I think it’s ultimately UFC throwing a bone, and I’ve got to be thankful for that.” (Transcribed by MMA Junkie)