Beneil Dariush offered his opinion on why Ilia Topuria chose to fight Justin Gaethje instead of Islam Makhachev. According to Dariush, Topuria did not have a clear plan for facing Makhachev, which influenced his decision. Dariush believes Topuria viewed the Gaethje fight as both a good money-making opportunity and a matchup that would be significantly easier to prepare for than a bout with Makhachev. The lightweight contender suggests that developing a game plan for Gaethje is much simpler than creating one for the reigning lightweight champion. The post does not indicate whether Dariush elaborated further on the specific strategic challenges Makhachev would present.
Beneil Dariush has shared his take on why Ilia Topuria opted to fight Justin Gaethje rather than pursue a bout with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, suggesting the decision came down to preparation and money rather than pure competitive ambition.
Dariush, a 37-year-old southpaw out of Kings MMA, holds a 23-8-1 professional record and sits eighth in the lightweight rankings. He lands 3.78 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy and averages 2.11 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the division's more well-rounded threats. His perspective on the division's politics carries weight given his long tenure near the top of the 155-pound class.
Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and first in the pound-for-pound standings, carries a 17-1-0 record and represents Spain and Georgia on the global stage. The 29-year-old orthodox striker known as El Matador is one of the sport's most active finishers, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute. According to Dariush, Topuria lacked a clear strategic blueprint for facing Makhachev and saw Gaethje as a more manageable stylistic puzzle as well as a financially rewarding fight.
Makhachev, the reigning champion with a 28-1-0 record, is regarded as among the most difficult opponents to game-plan for in the sport. The 34-year-old Russian southpaw leads the pound-for-pound rankings and combines elite grappling — averaging 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — with 58 percent striking accuracy, a figure that underlines the two-way pressure he applies.
Why it matters
- Topuria's path through Gaethje rather than Makhachev reshapes the lightweight title picture for the near future
- Dariush's comments imply Makhachev's combination of wrestling volume and striking precision poses a uniquely complex strategic problem
- Topuria's ranking at number two and his pound-for-pound status mean the Makhachev fight remains the division's most anticipated potential matchup whenever it does materialize
