Beneil Dariush analyzed Ilia Topuria's decision to fight Justin Gaethje instead of Islam Makhachev, suggesting strategic considerations were the primary factor. Dariush stated that Topuria did not have a clear plan for facing Makhachev, which influenced his choice to pursue the Gaethje matchup instead. According to Dariush, Topuria viewed the Gaethje fight as both a money-making opportunity and a stylistically easier bout to prepare for compared to Makhachev. Dariush emphasized that developing a game plan against Gaethje is significantly simpler than creating one for Makhachev.
Lightweight contender Beneil Dariush has offered his take on why Ilia Topuria chose to pursue a fight with Justin Gaethje rather than champion Islam Makhachev, pointing to strategic calculation as the driving force behind the decision.
Dariush, who holds a 23-8-1 record and sits ranked eighth in the lightweight division at 37 years old, argued that Topuria simply did not have a clear blueprint for handling Makhachev. The Kings MMA fighter suggested that the Gaethje matchup offered Topuria both a more lucrative payday and a stylistically simpler puzzle to solve in the gym. In Dariush's view, building a game plan for Gaethje is considerably more straightforward than constructing one for the reigning champion.
Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and first in the pound-for-pound standings, carries a 17-1-0 record and is one of the most active strikers in the sport, averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. The 29-year-old Spaniard also contributes on the ground, averaging 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
The fighter Dariush suggests Topuria is sidestepping, Islam Makhachev, is the reigning welterweight champion with a 28-1-0 record and the top pound-for-pound ranking. The 34-year-old Russian is a relentless grappler, averaging 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, while also posting a striking accuracy of 58 percent — among the highest in the sport.
Why it matters
- Topuria is ranked second at lightweight, and a move toward Gaethje rather than Makhachev carries significant divisional implications for the title picture.
- Makhachev's grappling volume and accuracy make him a uniquely difficult stylistic challenge that Dariush argues Topuria has not solved on the drawing board.
- Dariush himself sits at eighth in the division, meaning how the top of the lightweight rankings shakes out directly affects his own path forward.
