Beneil Dariush: Topuria chose Gaethje over Makhachev due to easier game plan

Beneil Dariush offered his perspective on why Ilia Topuria chose to fight Justin Gaethje instead of pursuing Islam Makhachev. According to Dariush, Topuria did not have a clear plan for facing Makhachev, making the Gaethje matchup more appealing from both a strategic and financial standpoint. Dariush suggested that developing a game plan for Gaethje is considerably simpler than preparing for the technical challenges Makhachev presents. The lightweight contender believes Topuria viewed the Gaethje fight as an opportunity to earn money against a more predictable opponent. This analysis comes as Topuria continues his rise in the featherweight division.