Beneil Dariush offered his analysis on why Ilia Topuria chose 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 more lucrative opportunity. He stated it is much easier to prepare a gameplan for Gaethje than for Makhachev. This represents Dariush's perspective on the strategic considerations behind Topuria's opponent selection.
Lightweight contender Beneil Dariush has weighed in on Ilia Topuria's decision to pursue a fight with Justin Gaethje rather than champion Islam Makhachev, arguing that strategic uncertainty and financial appeal drove the Georgian-Spanish star toward the easier matchup.
Dariush, who carries a 23-8-1 record and sits ranked eighth in the lightweight division, shared his analysis in a recent interview. The 37-year-old southpaw out of Kings MMA is a technically rounded fighter, averaging 3.78 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy while also threatening with 2.11 takedown attempts per 15 minutes. He believes Topuria simply did not have a workable blueprint for Makhachev and that the Gaethje bout presented a cleaner path — both strategically and financially.
Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and first in the pound-for-pound standings, enters with a 17-1-0 record. The 29-year-old from Spain is one of the sport's most active strikers, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute. Dariush's argument is that while Topuria is a dangerous and well-rounded fighter, the puzzle posed by Makhachev is a different kind of problem entirely.
Islam Makhachev, the reigning champion who currently sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings with a 28-1-0 record, presents a uniquely difficult challenge. The 34-year-old Russian southpaw out of Eagles MMA leads with suffocating grappling — 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — combined with elite striking accuracy of 58 percent, among the highest in the division.
Why it matters
- Topuria's opponent selection has direct implications for how soon Makhachev faces a legitimate featherweight-turned-lightweight challenger
- Dariush's read suggests the lightweight title picture remains defined by Makhachev's near-unsolvable grappling-based style
- A Topuria win over Gaethje would likely push him toward a Makhachev title shot, making this strategic detour a temporary one at most
