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

Beneil Dariush believes Ilia Topuria did not have a clear plan for fighting Islam Makhachev, which is why he selected a bout with Justin Gaethje instead. Dariush suggested Topuria viewed the Gaethje fight as a money-making opportunity. He stated that preparing a game plan for Gaethje is much simpler compared to preparing for Makhachev. Dariush's analysis implies Topuria took the more strategically favorable matchup rather than the more challenging championship fight.