Beneil Dariush shared his thoughts on why Ilia Topuria opted to fight Justin Gaethje instead of Islam Makhachev. According to Dariush, Topuria did not have a clear plan for facing Makhachev, which influenced his decision. Dariush believes Topuria viewed the Gaethje fight as a lucrative opportunity that would be much easier to prepare for strategically. He suggests it is far simpler to develop a game plan against Gaethje compared to the complexity of facing Makhachev.
Beneil Dariush has weighed in on Ilia Topuria's decision to pursue a fight with Justin Gaethje rather than Islam Makhachev, arguing the choice came down to strategic simplicity and financial appeal.
Dariush, a 37-year-old lightweight ranked eighth in the division with a career record of 23-8-1, suggested that Topuria simply did not have a workable blueprint for taking on Makhachev. The Kings MMA product believes the Gaethje matchup offered Topuria a far more manageable preparation process alongside a lucrative payday.
Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and first in the pound-for-pound standings, enters the conversation off a 17-1-0 record. The 29-year-old Spaniard is one of the division's most active strikers, averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute, and carries genuine finishing ability with 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes as well. His lone professional loss makes him a credible challenger to any titleholder.
Makhachev, currently a champion with a 28-1-0 record, presents a uniquely difficult puzzle. The 34-year-old Russian leads the pound-for-pound rankings at the top spot and averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes while posting a striking accuracy of 58 percent — figures that reflect the kind of multi-layered threat Dariush implies Topuria struggled to account for tactically.
Why it matters
- Topuria's divisional ranking and pound-for-pound standing mean any fight he takes shapes the lightweight title picture significantly
- Dariush's comments frame the Makhachev matchup as the more dangerous and strategically complex assignment in today's lightweight landscape
- The suggestion that Topuria lacked a clear game plan for Makhachev adds a layer of narrative to an already closely watched divisional rivalry between the two fighters' camps
