Beneil Dariush believes Ilia Topuria did not have a clear game plan for a potential fight with Islam Makhachev, which influenced his decision to face Justin Gaethje instead. Dariush suggests that Topuria viewed the Gaethje matchup as a more lucrative opportunity. According to Dariush, it is much easier to prepare a specific game plan against Gaethje than against Makhachev. The comments provide insight into Topuria's strategic decision-making regarding his next opponent.
Lightweight contender Beneil Dariush has offered his theory on why Ilia Topuria opted to fight Justin Gaethje rather than Islam Makhachev, pointing to game-plan concerns and financial motivations as the driving factors behind the Georgian-Spanish star's decision.
Dariush, ranked eighth at lightweight with a record of 23-8-1, suggested that Topuria simply did not have a clear blueprint for how to approach a bout with Makhachev. The 37-year-old Kings MMA product added that Topuria saw the Gaethje matchup as the more lucrative option, and noted it is considerably easier to build a specific game plan against Gaethje than against the reigning champion.
Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and sitting atop the pound-for-pound rankings at number one, carries a 17-1-0 record and is one of the most active strikers in the division, averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. The 29-year-old from Spain is listed at five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, and also contributes on the mat with 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
The fighter Dariush identifies as the tougher stylistic puzzle, Islam Makhachev, currently holds champion status and sits atop the pound-for-pound list at number one — though his data here reflects a welterweight division listing. The 34-year-old Russian is among the most accurate strikers in the sport at 58 percent, while his grappling output of 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes makes him a uniquely complex opponent to scheme for.
Why it matters
- Topuria's choice to face Gaethje rather than Makhachev has real implications for the lightweight title picture and the division's top-five pecking order.
- Dariush's comments frame Makhachev as a stylistically unsolvable problem, reinforcing the champion's standing as the division's most dangerous all-around threat.
- A Topuria win over Gaethje would likely strengthen his eventual case for a lightweight title shot, while Makhachev continues to await a high-profile challenger.
