Beneil Dariush believes Ilia Topuria selected Justin Gaethje as his opponent because he did not have a clear game plan for facing Islam Makhachev. According to Dariush, Topuria viewed the Gaethje matchup as a fight where he could earn money while having a simpler preparation strategy. Dariush suggests that developing a tactical approach for Makhachev is significantly more complex than preparing for Gaethje. The lightweight contender's analysis implies that Topuria made a strategic choice based on fight planning difficulty rather than purely competitive considerations. The comments reflect Dariush's perspective on Topuria's decision-making process regarding potential opponents.
Lightweight contender Beneil Dariush has offered a pointed analysis of why Ilia Topuria reportedly chose to fight Justin Gaethje rather than pursue a bout with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, suggesting the decision came down to strategic preparation difficulty rather than competitive ambition.
Dariush, 37, carries a 23-8-1 record and sits ranked eighth in the lightweight division. Fighting out of Kings MMA, the southpaw stands five-foot-ten with a 72-inch reach and brings a well-rounded game to the cage, averaging 3.78 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy while also threatening with 2.11 takedowns per 15 minutes. That blend of experience gives his tactical assessments a degree of credibility within the division.
According to Dariush, Topuria viewed the Gaethje matchup as a financially rewarding fight that required a more straightforward preparation. He argues that constructing a game plan to deal with Makhachev presents a far greater challenge, implying Topuria opted for the less complicated strategic puzzle.
Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and the current number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, holds a 17-1-0 record. The 29-year-old from Spain is one of the sport's most active strikers, posting 4.81 significant strikes per minute, and also averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, giving him a credible all-around threat profile.
Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion competing at 28-1-0, presents an historically difficult tactical problem. The Russian southpaw leads the division in takedown volume at 3.2 per 15 minutes, hits at 58 percent striking accuracy, and averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — a combination that has confounded opponents throughout his title reign.
Why it matters
- Dariush's comments add outside perspective to Topuria's opponent selection and the thinking behind it
- Makhachev's elite grappling and submission volume make game-plan construction genuinely complex, lending weight to the argument
- With Topuria ranked second at lightweight, his path to a Makhachev title fight remains a central storyline for the division
