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

Beneil Dariush offered his analysis on why Ilia Topuria selected Justin Gaethje as an opponent rather than facing Islam Makhachev. The lightweight contender believes Topuria viewed the Gaethje fight as a more lucrative opportunity. Dariush suggested that developing a clear fight plan against Gaethje is significantly simpler than preparing for Makhachev. He theorized that Topuria lacked a concrete strategy for how to defeat the lightweight champion. Dariush's comments imply he sees Makhachev as a more complex puzzle from a tactical standpoint, making the Gaethje matchup the more appealing choice for Topuria.