Dariush says Topuria chose Gaethje over Makhachev due to easier game plan

Beneil Dariush shared his analysis on why Ilia Topuria chose to fight Justin Gaethje instead of Islam Makhachev. According to Dariush, Topuria did not have a clear game plan for facing Makhachev, which influenced his decision-making. Dariush believes Topuria viewed the Gaethje fight as a lucrative opportunity that would be easier to prepare for strategically. The lightweight contender stated that developing a fight plan for Gaethje is significantly simpler than creating one for the reigning lightweight champion Makhachev. This represents Dariush's perspective on the tactical considerations behind high-level matchmaking decisions in the UFC.