Beneil Dariush says Topuria chose Gaethje over Makhachev due to easier gameplan

Beneil Dariush believes Ilia Topuria lacked a clear plan to defeat Islam Makhachev, which influenced his decision to fight Justin Gaethje instead. According to Dariush, Topuria viewed the Gaethje matchup as a money fight that would be much simpler to prepare for strategically. Dariush suggests that developing a gameplan against Makhachev is significantly more challenging than preparing for Gaethje. This commentary comes amid ongoing discussion about Topuria's decision to pursue the Gaethje fight rather than challenge Makhachev for the lightweight title. Dariush's analysis highlights the strategic considerations fighters make when choosing opponents.