Beneil Dariush has offered his analysis on why Ilia Topuria chose to fight Justin Gaethje instead of pursuing a bout with Islam Makhachev. According to Dariush, Topuria did not have a clear game plan for facing Makhachev, which influenced his decision. Dariush believes Topuria viewed the Gaethje fight as a lucrative opportunity that would be easier to prepare for strategically. The lightweight contender suggested that developing a plan against Gaethje is much simpler compared to the challenges Makhachev presents. This commentary adds to the ongoing discussion about Topuria's future opponents and his reluctance to move up to lightweight to challenge Makhachev.
Beneil Dariush has weighed in on one of the sport's more debated storylines, offering a pointed explanation for why Ilia Topuria opted to fight Justin Gaethje rather than pursue a lightweight title shot against Islam Makhachev.
Dariush, a 37-year-old southpaw ranked eighth in the lightweight division with a record of 23-8-1, suggested that Topuria's decision came down to a simple tactical reality: he did not have a clear game plan for dealing with Makhachev. The Kings MMA product added that Topuria recognized the Gaethje fight as a financially rewarding opportunity and one that is far more straightforward to prepare for strategically.
Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and first in the pound-for-pound standings with a 17-1-0 record, has been one of the sport's most aggressive finishers. The 29-year-old Spaniard lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute and attempts 1.1 submissions per 15 minutes, but Dariush's implication is that those tools run into a different kind of problem when Makhachev is across the cage.
That problem is Makhachev himself. The reigning champion carries a 28-1-0 record and sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings. The 34-year-old Russian lands 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes with a striking accuracy of 58 percent, and he attempts 1.1 submissions per 15 minutes — numbers that reflect how completely he can control a fight across multiple dimensions.
Why it matters
- Topuria's move to lightweight and a potential Makhachev bout remains one of the division's most anticipated potential matchups
- Dariush's comments frame the Gaethje fight as a strategic detour rather than a natural progression
- Makhachev's elite grappling and takedown volume present a stylistic puzzle that few fighters at 155 pounds have solved
