Dec 2, 2023; Austin, Texas, USA; Beneil Dariush (red gloves) fights Arman Tsarukyan (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-USA TODAY Sports

mma

Beneil Dariush Ready To Welcome New Lightweight To The Division!

Veteran Beneil Dariush Reveals His Intention To Take On Former Featherweight Champion In His Lightweight debut!

Dec 2, 2023; Austin, Texas, USA; Beneil Dariush (red gloves) fights Arman Tsarukyan (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-USA TODAY Sports

Getting to the top of UFC’s lightweight division takes years of hard work. Some fighters never make it. Others climb halfway and tumble back down. Beneil Dariush knows this journey better than most. The Iranian-American fighter spent over a decade grinding through the UFC ranks. He has faced the best, tasted victory and defeat. Now, with his place among the elite secured, Dariush stands ready as the division’s unofficial gatekeeper, the test that separates contenders from pretenders.

Dariush has built a reputation as one of the most well-rounded fighters in the UFC. His jiu-jitsu skills make him dangerous on the ground. His improved striking makes him formidable on the feet. And his heart? Well, that’s never been questioned.

After putting together an impressive eight-fight winning streak between 2018 and 2022, Dariush established himself as a perennial top-five lightweight. That streak included wins over notable names like Tony Ferguson, Mateusz Gamrot, and Drew Dober, showcasing his evolution from a pure grappler to a complete mixed martial artist.

Also Read: UFC News: Khalil Rountree Gets New Opponent After Incredible UFC 307 Performance!

The Setback Against Arman Tsarukyan

UFC Fight Night: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan was supposed to be Dariush’s launching pad back into title contention. Instead, it became another learning experience. Facing the rising Armenian star Arman Tsarukyan in December 2023, Dariush showed his trademark grit and technical skills.

Arman Tsarukyan KO's Beneil Dariush in round 1! pic.twitter.com/CpZKJG1Amo
— Tiger Joseph 🐅 (@tigerjvideo) December 3, 2023

However, the Armenian proved too much for the veteran as he got clipped and knocked out in the first round.This marked his second straight defeat after previously falling to Charles Oliveira in June 2023. The back-to-back losses cooled his championship aspirations but did nothing to diminish his value to the division.

Eyeing Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria

Never one to back down from a challenge, Beneil Dariush has now set his sights on an intriguing new target. Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has recently moved up to lightweight to chase double-champion status. While many established lightweights seem hesitant to welcome the undefeated ‘El Matador,’ Dariush has thrown his name into the hat as a potential first opponent.

“No one seems to want to fight Topuira. If that is an option, i will take that fight. The danger is everywhere when you fight a guy like that and i think i am well rounded enough to beat him. It is just going to be about opportunity,” said Dariush via Submission Radio.

This willingness to face an established threat has become Dariush’s calling card. The potential matchup makes sense from some angles. For Ilia Topuria, beating a veteran like Dariush would instantly legitimize his lightweight ambitions. For Dariush, derailing the Topuria hype train would vault him back into title conversations. And for fans, it is a fascinating clash of styles!

(Image Credit: Dustin Safranek – Imagn Images)

Beneil Dariush

Ilia Topuria

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!