Beneil Dariush blasts UFC star Conor McGregor: ‘I think he’s cheating, this is bullsh*t’

Beneil Dariush thinks Conor McGregor is cheating USADA UFCSurging UFC lightweight contender, Beneil Dariush believes former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion, Conor McGregor is “cheating” during his time away from the Octagon, suggesting the Dubliner is utilizing certain banned agents in order to help recover from a leg fracture suffered back in July 2021. Dariush, the current #4 ranked lightweight contender, improved his […]

Beneil Dariush thinks Conor McGregor is cheating USADA UFC

Surging UFC lightweight contender, Beneil Dariush believes former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion, Conor McGregor is “cheating” during his time away from the Octagon, suggesting the Dubliner is utilizing certain banned agents in order to help recover from a leg fracture suffered back in July 2021.

Dariush, the current #4 ranked lightweight contender, improved his impressive winning spree to eight consecutive victories at UFC 280 back in October of last year in Abu Dhabi, UAE – defeating Mateusz Gamrot with a unanimous decision victory.

Slated to return to the Octagon in May, Kings MMA staple, Dariush is booked to co-headline UFC 288 against former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira in a potential title eliminator in Newark, New Jersey.

As for McGregor, the 34-year-old Dubliner has been sidelined since UFC 264, fracturing his left tibia and fibula en route to a doctor’s stoppage TKO loss against former interim lightweight ttitleholder, Dustin Poirier

Beneil Dariush brands UFC lightweight rival, Conor McGregor a cheater

Yet to return to the USADA testing pool since the third quarter of 2021, McGregor, who is expected to make his UFC return in a welterweight fight against Michael Chandler later this year, has been branded a cheater by Dariush, who scoffs at his ongoing stand-off with the above-mentioned anti-doping agency.

“I think Conor (McGregor) is cheating,” Beneil Dariush said during a recent interview with The Schmo. “In reality, if you want to fix your knee or you want to fix your leg and get certain growth hormones or whatever he’s doing, you can get a therapeutic exemption. You can speak to USADA and get’ a therapeutic exemption – but you cna’t add extra stuff. Whatever you are putting in, you have to declare with them and get it figured out.”

“This is BS, to be honest,” Beneil Dariush explained. “The fact they say, ‘Oh, while he’s (Conor McGregor) doing this, he’s not getting tested right now, because of his leg.’ No – you can still get tested. You just have to declare and say, ‘Hey, this was a therapeutic exemption.’ But that’s not the case [with Conor McGregor]. He even put down ‘retirement’, so he went into retirement, I guess. USADA recently said when you come out of retirement, you need six months and two clean tests. So, this is garbage – but that’s the game.” 

Henry Cejudo rips UFC best Aljamain Sterling: ‘He won the belt via Academy Award’

Henry Cejudo, Aljamain Sterling, UFC 288Former two-division UFC titleholder Henry Cejudo didn’t hold back against bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling.  After a three-year layoff, Cejudo will return to face Sterling for the bantamweight title in the main event of UFC 288 on May 6.  During a recent interview with ESPN, Cejudo (16-2) had a heated exchange with Sterling, who he criticized […]

Henry Cejudo, Aljamain Sterling, UFC 288

Former two-division UFC titleholder Henry Cejudo didn’t hold back against bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling

After a three-year layoff, Cejudo will return to face Sterling for the bantamweight title in the main event of UFC 288 on May 6. 

During a recent interview with ESPN, Cejudo (16-2) had a heated exchange with Sterling, who he criticized for his controversial title win at UFC 259. 

In March 2021, Sterling (22-3) defeated former champion Petr Yan by disqualification due to an illegal knee. A year later, he captured another win against Yan by split decision. 

“He won the [title] via Academy Award. He won the second fight against Yan [against Yan] via… judges guilt,” Cejudo said. “This dude is an easy fight for me and I’m going to stop him no less than three rounds and I promise you that.”

Henry Cejudo vs. Aljamain Sterling Are Two Bantamweight Greats 

Cejudo, who is a former simultaneous bantamweight and flyweight champion, last fought in May 2020 at UFC 249 where he defeated Dominick Cruz by TKO. He announced his retirement after the bout. 

The 36-year-old re-entered the USADA drug-testing pool in early 2022. His UFC resume includes other wins over Demetrious Johnson, T.J. Dillashaw, Sergio Pettis and Marlon Moreas, to name a select few. 

Sterling, who represents the Serra-Longo Fight Team, hasn’t lost in five years. Since winning the 135-pound title, he has defended his throne twice with wins over former champions Yan and Dillashaw. 

The Long Island, New York native is ranked No. 7 in the UFC’s pound-for-pound fighter list. 

Once that bell rings and you realize it’s not an easy fight, you’re going to feel so stupid,” Sterling told Cejudo. 

The two 135-ers will settle their beef at UFC 288 that will be held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Henry Cejudo rips UFC best Aljamain Sterling: ‘He won the belt via Academy Award’

Henry Cejudo, Aljamain Sterling, UFC 288Former two-division UFC titleholder Henry Cejudo didn’t hold back against bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling.  After a three-year layoff, Cejudo will return to face Sterling for the bantamweight title in the main event of UFC 288 on May 6.  During a recent interview with ESPN, Cejudo (16-2) had a heated exchange with Sterling, who he criticized […]

Henry Cejudo, Aljamain Sterling, UFC 288

Former two-division UFC titleholder Henry Cejudo didn’t hold back against bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling

After a three-year layoff, Cejudo will return to face Sterling for the bantamweight title in the main event of UFC 288 on May 6. 

During a recent interview with ESPN, Cejudo (16-2) had a heated exchange with Sterling, who he criticized for his controversial title win at UFC 259. 

In March 2021, Sterling (22-3) defeated former champion Petr Yan by disqualification due to an illegal knee. A year later, he captured another win against Yan by split decision. 

“He won the [title] via Academy Award. He won the second fight against Yan [against Yan] via… judges guilt,” Cejudo said. “This dude is an easy fight for me and I’m going to stop him no less than three rounds and I promise you that.”

Henry Cejudo vs. Aljamain Sterling Are Two Bantamweight Greats 

Cejudo, who is a former simultaneous bantamweight and flyweight champion, last fought in May 2020 at UFC 249 where he defeated Dominick Cruz by TKO. He announced his retirement after the bout. 

The 36-year-old re-entered the USADA drug-testing pool in early 2022. His UFC resume includes other wins over Demetrious Johnson, T.J. Dillashaw, Sergio Pettis and Marlon Moreas, to name a select few. 

Sterling, who represents the Serra-Longo Fight Team, hasn’t lost in five years. Since winning the 135-pound title, he has defended his throne twice with wins over former champions Yan and Dillashaw. 

The Long Island, New York native is ranked No. 7 in the UFC’s pound-for-pound fighter list. 

Once that bell rings and you realize it’s not an easy fight, you’re going to feel so stupid,” Sterling told Cejudo. 

The two 135-ers will settle their beef at UFC 288 that will be held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Cory Sandhagen calls out Merab Dvalishvili after UFC San Antonio win: ‘I got something for you to eat’

Cory Sandhagen calls out Merab Dvalishvili I got something for you to eat UFC San AntonioOff the back of his impressive victory over the surging Marlon Vera atop last night’s UFC San Antonio card in the ‘Lone Star State’ – Cory Sandhagen has called for a bantamweight title-eliminator against the #1 ranked, Merab Dvalishvili next. Headlining his second consecutive Fight Night billed card, Sandhagen, who most recently secured an impressive […]

Cory Sandhagen calls out Merab Dvalishvili I got something for you to eat UFC San Antonio

Off the back of his impressive victory over the surging Marlon Vera atop last night’s UFC San Antonio card in the ‘Lone Star State’ – Cory Sandhagen has called for a bantamweight title-eliminator against the #1 ranked, Merab Dvalishvili next.

Headlining his second consecutive Fight Night billed card, Sandhagen, who most recently secured an impressive TKO win over Song Yadong back in September of last year, turned in another impressive performance in Texas this weekend.

Displaying his often overlooked grappling and wrestling chops, Colorado native, Cory Sandhagen battled to a rather one-sided, split decision (47-48, 50-45, 49-46) over the #3 ranked challenger, Vera.

Cory Sandhagen calls out Merab Dvalishvili next

Scoring his second successive victory with his judging win over Chone favorite, Vera, Sandhagen – who has suffered a submission loss to current bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling, offered to fight the Uniondale native’s teammate, Dvalishvili next.

“Merab (Dvalishvili), you’re hungry? Well I’ve got something for you to eat,” Cory Sandhagen said during his post-fight Octagon interview. “And it don’t taste good.”

Welcoming the potential number one contender decider clash, Dvalishvili replied to Sandhagen’s call on Instagram – writing, “The Machine says let’s go.”

In the midst of his own lenghty winning run under the promotion’s banner, Tbilisi native, Dvalishvili most recently took out common-foe, former undisputed bantamweight titleholder, Petr Yan in a clear-cut decision win at UFC Las Vegas earlier this month

Throughout his Octagon tenure, Sandhagen, who has only suffered losses against former champions, Sterling, Yan, and a close decision loss to T.J. Dillashaw, clutches the #5 ranked at the time of publication.

During his UFC stint, the Elevation Fight Team mainstay has defeated the likes of John Lineker, Raphael Assuncao, Marlon Moraes, and former lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar.

As for champion, Sterling, the undisputed gold holder headlines UFC 288 in May – attempting his third title defense against the returning former two-weight champion, Henry Cejudo.

Marlon Vera welcomes UFC title fight for Henry Cejudo in return: ‘He’s a little guy, they need attention’

Marlon Vera Henry Cejudo title shot UFC he's a little guy need attentionAhead of his incoming UFC San Antonio main event feature against former interim title challenger, Cory Sandhagen, surging division challenger, Marlon Vera admits that he is fine with former two-weight champion, Henry Cejudo snapping his three year hiatus in an immediate title fight – poking fun at the stature of the Olympic gold medalist. Vera, […]

Marlon Vera Henry Cejudo title shot UFC he's a little guy need attention

Ahead of his incoming UFC San Antonio main event feature against former interim title challenger, Cory Sandhagen, surging division challenger, Marlon Vera admits that he is fine with former two-weight champion, Henry Cejudo snapping his three year hiatus in an immediate title fight – poking fun at the stature of the Olympic gold medalist.

Vera, in the midst of an impressive four-fight winning run, most recently featured at UFC San Diego back in August of last year against former champion, Dominick Cruz – stopping the veteran with a brutal fourth round high kick knockout.

As for Sandhagen, the current #5 ranked bantamweight contender most recently snapped a two-fight losing skid to former division champions, T.J. Dillashaw, and Petr Yan – securing a fourth round doctor’s stoppage TKO win over Song Yadong last September. 

As for the above-mentioned, Cejudo, the former undisputed bantamweight and flyweight champion – who bowed out of the sport in 2020 holding both championships, is slated to headline UFC 288 in May against champion, Aljamain Sterling.

Marlon Vera pokes fun at the stature of ex-champion, Henry Cejudo

And despite a host of contenders emerging in recent months in the form of both Sean O’Malley, and Merab Dvalishvili – Chone native, Vera claimed he was okay with Cejudo receiving a title shot in his comeback, in rather tongue-in-cheek fashion.

“He’s (Henry Cejudo) broke,” Marlon Vera told assembled media ahead of UFC San Antonio. “What’s the point of coming back when you retire on top? You come back because you either need attention and you miss that ‘thing’ – or you need money.”

“He’s a little guy,” Marlon Vera explained. “They need attention.” 

Prior to his knockout win over Cruz, Vera secured a pair of decision wins over both Rob Font, and Davey Grant – in between a stunning front kick KO of former lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar back in November 2021. 

Beneil Dariush accuses Islam Makhachev of running from fight with welterweight move: ‘What about title defenses?’

Beneil Dariush accuses Islam Makhachev of running from fight with welterweight moveSurging UFC lightweight contender, Beneil Dariush has slammed division champion, Islam Makhachev this week, questioning how the Dagestan native could warrant a move to the welterweight ranks – after the latter offered to fight Leon Edwards for 170lbs gold at UFC 294 in October on ‘Fight Island’. Dariush, in the midst of a stunning eight-fight […]

Beneil Dariush accuses Islam Makhachev of running from fight with welterweight move

Surging UFC lightweight contender, Beneil Dariush has slammed division champion, Islam Makhachev this week, questioning how the Dagestan native could warrant a move to the welterweight ranks – after the latter offered to fight Leon Edwards for 170lbs gold at UFC 294 in October on ‘Fight Island’.

Dariush, in the midst of a stunning eight-fight winning spree, returns to the Octagon in search of a number-one contender’s stop in May, tackling soon-to-be common-foe, former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC 288 in Newark, New Jersey.

Moving to 8-0 in as many fights back in October of last year in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Kings MMA staple, Dariush halted the run of former two-weight KSW champion, Mateusz Gamrot with an impressive unanimous decision victory. 

However, in his pursuit of lightweight gold, Dariush may run into a stumbling block, with Makhachev calling for a welterweight championship effort against undisputed kingpin, Edwards following UFC 286.

Beneil Dariush left frustrated by Islam Makhachev’s potential welterweight climb

Questioning how the American Kickboxing Academy mainstay could warrant a move after defending his title just once, Dariush accused Makhachev of trying to run from a future fight against him.

“I don’t understand – like, what about title defenses,” Beneil Dariush said during an appearance on Submission Radio. “It’s like people – I don’t know what’s going on with him (Islam Makhachev). Why? Maybe he’s having a hard time making weight at 155lbs and he’s just like, ‘Eh, let’s just go to 170 and relax’. Honestly. I don’t get it.”

“I think he needs to focus on his division,” Beneil Dariush explained. “There’s a lot of good fighters in his division. Maybe, in my opinion, [it’s] the best division (in the UFC). So, I don’t know why he’s trying to run off to other divisions.” 

Headlining UFC 284 back in February, Makhachev managed to successfully land his first defense of the undisputed lightweight crown – defeating featherweight titleholder, Alexander Volkanovski in a close decision triumph in Perth, Australia.

However, prior to his call out of Edwards for an October battle in Abu Dhabi, UAE – Makhachev expressed his interest in a new challenge against the likes of Dariush in his next attempt lightweight title defense