Beneil Dariush stepped back into the octagon after more than a year away from competition. The 36-year-old veteran had been through some tough times lately, losing his last two fights to top contenders Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan. Both losses came by stoppage, which had many fans wondering if ‘Father time’ was catching up to the Iranian-American fighter. But Dariush has always been known for his mental toughness and technical skills, traits that have served him well throughout his long UFC career.<\/p>
Renato Moicano came into this fight with his own story to tell. The confident (some may see it as cocky) Brazilian had been on a hot streak coming into this fight (before getting thrown into the deep end against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311). He kept calling Beneil Dariush as “Senile Dariush<\/em>.” It must be noted that both are almost the same age. The Brazilian kept trash talking till the fight started. But, going into UFC<\/a> 317, he realized he may have overplayed his cards.<\/p> The first round started exactly how most fans expected it would. Moicano took control of the center of the octagon right away. He immediately started pressuring Dariush toward the cage, looking to impose his will early. But Dariush had other plans and began working his inside leg kicks, a weapon that would prove crucial as the fight went on. Moicano seemed to be getting the better of the striking exchanges. His pull counter right hand was working beautifully. The round’s defining moment came when Moicano landed a picture-perfect combination that dropped Dariush to the canvas. <\/p>Beneil Dariush Dominates ‘Money’ Moicano<\/h2>