Beneil Dariush says Topuria chose Gaethje over Makhachev for easier fight plan

Beneil Dariush believes Ilia Topuria did not have a clear game plan for facing Islam Makhachev, which influenced his decision to fight Justin Gaethje instead. According to Dariush, Topuria viewed the Gaethje matchup as both a lucrative opportunity and a more straightforward fight to prepare for tactically. Dariush suggests that developing a strategic plan for Makhachev is significantly more difficult than preparing for Gaethje. The comments provide insight into Topuria's decision-making process regarding opponent selection at the top of the lightweight division. Dariush's analysis frames Topuria's choice as a pragmatic decision based on fight preparation considerations.