Beneil Dariush says Topuria chose Gaethje over Makhachev due to easier gameplan

Beneil Dariush believes that 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 fight as an opportunity to earn money while facing an opponent for whom it is much easier to prepare a specific game plan compared to Makhachev. Dariush suggests that the strategic complexity of fighting Makhachev made the Gaethje matchup more appealing from a preparation standpoint. The comment provides insight into the tactical considerations behind high-level matchmaking decisions. Dariush's perspective highlights the difference in preparation difficulty between facing the two lightweight contenders.