Beneil Dariush offered his opinion on why Ilia Topuria chose to fight Justin Gaethje instead of Islam Makhachev. According to Dariush, Topuria did not have a clear game plan for facing Makhachev, which influenced his decision. Dariush suggested that Topuria viewed the Gaethje fight as a money opportunity that would be easier to prepare for strategically. He stated it is much simpler to develop a fight plan for Gaethje than for Makhachev. The comments reflect Dariush's assessment of the strategic considerations behind Topuria's opponent selection.
Beneil Dariush has weighed in on Ilia Topuria's decision to pursue a fight with Justin Gaethje rather than a lightweight title unification bout against Islam Makhachev, suggesting the Georgian-Spanish star lacked a clear tactical blueprint for the champion.
Dariush, a 37-year-old southpaw out of Kings MMA, holds an impressive record of 23-8-1 and sits ranked eighth in the lightweight division. Averaging 3.78 significant strikes per minute with a 49 percent striking accuracy, and adding 2.11 takedowns per 15 minutes to his arsenal, Dariush has long been considered one of the more complete technical fighters in the weight class, giving his strategic assessment some credibility.
Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and sitting atop the pound-for-pound rankings at 17-1-0, is one of the sport's most dangerous finishers. The 29-year-old Spaniard lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute and attempts 1.1 submissions per 15 minutes, but Dariush suggested that Topuria's camp simply could not devise a workable approach against Makhachev. He also framed the Gaethje matchup as a financially rewarding opportunity that comes with a far more manageable strategic preparation.
Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion at 28-1-0, presents a uniquely complex puzzle. The 34-year-old Russian records 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and attempts 1.1 submissions in the same span, while posting a striking accuracy of 58 percent — among the highest in any division. Dariush argued those qualities make game-planning for Makhachev considerably more difficult than preparing for Gaethje.
Why it matters
- Topuria's opponent selection has direct implications for how quickly a lightweight title unification fight materializes
- Makhachev's elite grappling metrics reinforce Dariush's point about the tactical challenge he represents
- The comments add a strategic dimension to what has largely been framed as a financial or promotional decision by Topuria's camp
