Beneil Dariush stated in an interview that Ilia Topuria did not have a clear game plan for a potential fight with Islam Makhachev, which is why he chose to face Justin Gaethje instead. Dariush suggested that Topuria viewed Gaethje as a money fight and someone much easier to prepare a strategy against compared to Makhachev. This represents Dariush's analysis of Topuria's decision-making regarding opponent selection. The comments reflect strategic considerations in the lightweight and featherweight divisions.
Beneil Dariush offered a pointed assessment of Ilia Topuria's opponent selection on April 14, arguing that the Georgian-Spanish star steered away from Islam Makhachev because he lacked a credible game plan for that matchup and instead targeted Justin Gaethje as a more lucrative and strategically manageable fight.
Dariush, a 37-year-old southpaw lightweight out of Kings MMA, holds a professional record of 23-8-1 and sits at number eight in the lightweight rankings. Standing five-foot-ten with a 72-inch reach, he has built his reputation on a well-rounded game that includes 2.11 takedowns per 15 minutes and a striking output of 3.78 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy.
Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and first in the pound-for-pound rankings, carries a 17-1-0 record and holds the distinction of being one of the most active strikers in the sport at 4.81 significant strikes per minute. The 29-year-old Spaniard stands five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach and has recorded 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes across his career.
The fighter Dariush says Topuria was avoiding, Islam Makhachev, is the reigning welterweight champion with a 28-1-0 record and the top pound-for-pound ranking heading into 2026. The 34-year-old Russian southpaw averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 58 percent of his significant strikes, making him one of the most efficient fighters in the sport across both grappling and striking.
Why it matters
- Dariush's comments place public pressure on Topuria's decision-making and reputation as a top contender
- Makhachev's elite grappling volume and accuracy present a stylistic challenge that Topuria's length and reach disadvantage could magnify
- The lightweight and featherweight divisional picture remains unsettled, with Topuria now operating at 155 pounds as a ranked contender
- How Topuria fares against Gaethje will directly shape any future case for a Makhachev super-fight
