Beneil Dariush believes Ilia Topuria did not have a clear plan for fighting Islam Makhachev, which influenced his decision to face Justin Gaethje instead. According to Dariush, Topuria viewed the Gaethje matchup as a money fight that would be much easier to prepare a game plan for compared to facing Makhachev. The lightweight contender suggested that the complexity of strategizing against Makhachev made Gaethje the more attractive option for Topuria. Dariush's comments provide his perspective on Topuria's recent opponent selection and the strategic considerations involved.
Lightweight contender Beneil Dariush has offered his take on why Ilia Topuria chose to fight Justin Gaethje rather than pursue a bout with Islam Makhachev, suggesting the decision came down to strategic simplicity over the more complex challenge.
Dariush, who holds a 23-8-1 record and sits ranked eighth in the lightweight division at age 37, voiced his opinion that Topuria lacked a clear blueprint for dealing with Makhachev. The Kings MMA product, who averages 2.11 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands strikes at a 49 percent accuracy rate, argued that the Gaethje fight presented a far more manageable preparation process for the Georgian-Spanish contender.
Topuria enters that picture as one of the most dangerous strikers in the division. The number-two ranked lightweight and current pound-for-pound number-one at 29 years old carries a 17-1-0 record and leads the lightweight elite in striking output, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. According to Dariush, Topuria saw the Gaethje matchup as both a lucrative opportunity and one where an effective game plan could be assembled more cleanly.
The shadow over that reasoning, in Dariush's view, is Makhachev. The reigning welterweight champion — listed at 28-1-0 with a pound-for-pound ranking of first — presents a uniquely layered puzzle. The 34-year-old Russian posts a 58 percent striking accuracy rate and a suffocating 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, complemented by 1.1 submission attempts in the same window, making him arguably the hardest fighter in the sport to strategize against.
Why it matters
- Topuria's opponent selection signals how fighters and their camps are approaching the loaded lightweight and welterweight landscape
- Makhachev's combination of elite grappling and high-accuracy striking makes him a uniquely difficult puzzle for any opponent's coaching staff
- If Topuria clears Gaethje, the Makhachev question will only grow louder around his next move
