One lightweight contender likes his chances against Islam Makhachev—even without a training camp for the UFC champ.
Beneil Dariush has been in the UFC lightweight rankings for almost a decade now and the 23-fight veteran’s never had the chance to fight for the world title.
Dariush has fallen short of the title shot on a few occasions, losing his last two fights against top contenders Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan. Despite constant wins earlier in his career, Dariush was passed over by featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in the lightweight title picture in 2023.
But still, the 36-year-old Dariush is confident as ever in his abilities heading into his matchup with Renato Moicano at UFC 317.
Moicano and Dariush were supposed to fight earlier this year at UFC 311; however, after an injury to the headliner Tsarukyan, Dariush’s opponent Moicano replaced him and fought Makhachev on a day’s notice. Dariush didn’t fight but was compensated.
Moicano would lose by first-round submission, leaving his UFC 317 opponent Dariush to think he could do so much better.
Beneil Dariush on Islam Makhachev fight: ‘I would’ve won’
Months removed from Makhachev’s lightweight title fight at UFC 311, Dariush was asked what would have happened had he stepped in to fight the champion that night.
“I would’ve won,” Dariush told MMA Junkie.
“It would’ve been a finish for sure.
“It wasn’t gonna go five rounds. The way Makhachev and I fight, it’s not going five rounds.
“Neither of us have ever lost a decision. He doesn’t lose decisions. I don’t lose decisions.
“I don’t think I was gonna lose that fight. I thought pretty sure I was gonna win that fight.”
Dariush is one of the most well-rounded lightweights on the planet but so is Makhachev, who left the division for a welterweight title opportunity against Jack Della Maddalena. Makhachev is 16-1 in the UFC with his only loss coming by KO to Adriano Martins 10 years ago.
Beneil Dariush’s win streak against arguably the best division
Prior to his two TKO losses to Oliveira and Tsarukyan, Dariush had one of the longest win streaks in lightweight history at 8 consecutive wins.
Dariush defeated names like top contender Mateusz Gamrot and former interim champ Tony Ferguson as well as Diego Ferreira and Drew Dober.
Now, Dariush looks to get back into the win column against Renato Moicano, fresh off his first title fight.
With Makhachev going up to welterweight, the lightweight division has become a whole new ball game, with Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira fighting for the vacant title, the same night Dariush fights.
Dariush is ranked #9 in the world and time will tell if he rejoins the very top of the division where he once stood as the #3 contender.