Beneil Dariush believes Ilia Topuria did not have a clear plan for fighting Islam Makhachev, which influenced his decision to face Justin Gaethje instead. According to Dariush, Topuria viewed the Gaethje matchup as a money fight that would be significantly easier to prepare for strategically. Dariush suggests that developing a game plan for Gaethje is much more straightforward compared to the complex challenge of preparing for Makhachev. This assessment sheds light on the strategic considerations behind Topuria's opponent selection.
Beneil Dariush has offered a blunt explanation for why Ilia Topuria chose to face Justin Gaethje rather than lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, suggesting the decision came down to strategic simplicity and financial appeal.
Dariush, a 37-year-old southpaw ranked eighth in the lightweight division, carries a professional record of 23-8-1 and has built a reputation as one of the more analytically minded fighters on the roster. Training out of Kings MMA, he averages 3.78 significant strikes per minute with 49 percent accuracy, and supplements his striking with 2.11 takedowns per 15 minutes. That blend of technical range gives his strategic assessments some credibility.
Topuria, ranked second in lightweight and the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, holds a 17-1-0 record and is coming off a division move after previously competing at featherweight. The 29-year-old Spaniard, known as El Matador, lands an aggressive 4.81 significant strikes per minute. According to Dariush, Topuria lacked a clear, workable plan for dealing with Makhachev and leaned toward Gaethje as a fight that is far easier to map out tactically — and one that comes with considerable financial reward.
Makhachev, the current welterweight champion and top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter, presents an unusually demanding puzzle. The 34-year-old Russian owns a 28-1-0 record and combines elite grappling — 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — with a striking accuracy of 58 percent, among the highest in the sport.
Why it matters
- Dariush's comments suggest Topuria made a calculated business and strategic decision rather than pursuing the biggest available challenge.
- Makhachev's grappling volume and accuracy make him a uniquely difficult opponent to gameplan for, which could deter challengers beyond Topuria.
- Topuria's move to lightweight and opponent selection will directly shape the division's title picture heading into the remainder of 2026.
