Beneil Dariush says Ilia Topuria chose Justin Gaethje over Islam Makhachev

UFC lightweight contender Beneil Dariush has offered his analysis on why Ilia Topuria decided to fight Justin Gaethje instead of pursuing a bout with Islam Makhachev. According to Dariush, Topuria did not have a clear gameplan for facing Makhachev and therefore opted for the Gaethje matchup. Dariush believes Topuria viewed the Gaethje fight as a lucrative opportunity that would be easier to prepare for strategically than a potential Makhachev bout. The Iranian-American fighter suggested that developing a tactical approach for Makhachev's wrestling and grappling-heavy style is significantly more complex than preparing for Gaethje's striking-based attack. This assessment comes as Topuria continues to campaign as the featherweight champion while entertaining potential super fights at lightweight.