Beneil Dariush believes Ilia Topuria did not have a clear 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 money fight and a more manageable opponent in terms of fight preparation. Dariush stated that developing a game plan for Gaethje is much simpler compared to preparing for Makhachev. The comments suggest Topuria made a strategic choice to pursue an easier stylistic matchup. Dariush's analysis indicates he believes Topuria avoided the more complex challenge that Makhachev would have presented.
Beneil Dariush has publicly weighed in on Ilia Topuria's decision to fight Justin Gaethje instead of lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, suggesting the Georgian-Spanish star steered toward the matchup he found easier to prepare for.
Dariush, a 37-year-old southpaw ranked eighth at lightweight with a 23-8-1 record, argued that Topuria lacked a clear tactical blueprint for handling Makhachev and that this uncertainty shaped his choice. The Kings MMA representative said building a game plan for Gaethje is far more straightforward than solving the puzzle Makhachev presents, and that Topuria saw the Gaethje fight as both a financially rewarding and stylistically manageable option.
Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and sitting atop the pound-for-pound rankings at just 29 years old, carries a 17-1-0 record and is one of the more prolific strikers in the sport, averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute. The Spain-based fighter has genuine finishing ability across both striking and grappling, but Dariush's implication is that Makhachev represents a different category of problem entirely.
Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1-0 record and is the reigning champion, currently rated the top pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. The Dagestani standout lands strikes at a 58 percent accuracy rate and averages 3.2 takedowns per fifteen minutes, supplemented by 1.1 submission attempts in the same span — a combination that makes him one of the most complete fighters in MMA regardless of division.
Why it matters
- Dariush's comments frame Topuria's matchmaking as a calculated avoidance of the most complex stylistic challenge at lightweight.
- A Topuria win over Gaethje would likely set up a future title shot, keeping the Makhachev question unresolved.
- Makhachev's elite grappling volume and accuracy give credence to Dariush's claim that preparing for him demands a uniquely difficult game plan.
