Beneil Dariush shared his opinion on why Ilia Topuria opted to fight Justin Gaethje instead of Islam Makhachev. According to Dariush, Topuria did not have a clear plan for how to approach a bout with Makhachev. He believes Topuria viewed the Gaethje matchup as a lucrative opportunity that would be much easier to prepare for strategically. Dariush suggested that developing a game plan against Gaethje is far more straightforward than preparing for the technical challenges Makhachev presents.
Beneil Dariush has weighed in on Ilia Topuria's decision to pursue a fight with Justin Gaethje rather than a rematch challenge against Islam Makhachev, arguing the choice comes down to strategic simplicity.
Dariush, a 37-year-old southpaw from the United States competing out of Kings MMA, holds a 23-8-1 record and sits ranked eighth in the lightweight division. He lands 3.78 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy and averages 2.11 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the more complete technicians in the division and a credible voice on the strategic complexities of high-level lightweight matchups.
Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and first in the pound-for-pound standings, carries a 17-1-0 record and is one of the most active strikers in the sport at 4.81 significant strikes per minute. The 29-year-old Spaniard known as El Matador stands five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach and trains out of Climent Club.
According to Dariush, Topuria lacked a clear blueprint for how to handle Makhachev and viewed the Gaethje fight as a more straightforward and financially rewarding path. Dariush suggested that preparing for Gaethje is considerably less complicated from a tactical standpoint than solving the puzzle Makhachev presents.
Makhachev, the 34-year-old Russian champion now listed in the welterweight division in the database, carries a 28-1-0 record and ranks first pound-for-pound. He averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 58 percent of his significant strikes, a combination of grappling dominance and striking precision that Dariush implies presents unique and demanding preparation challenges for any opponent.
Why it matters
- Topuria's divisional path at lightweight has major title implications depending on whether he fights Gaethje or pursues Makhachev
- Dariush's framing positions Makhachev as a uniquely difficult stylistic problem, reinforcing the champion's standing as a near-unsolvable matchup
- The strategic reasoning behind Topuria's fight selection could shape how the lightweight top five re-orders itself in the near term
