Dariush: Topuria chose Gaethje over Makhachev due to easier gameplan

Beneil Dariush believes Ilia Topuria selected Justin Gaethje as his opponent instead of Islam Makhachev because it was strategically easier to prepare for. According to Dariush, Topuria did not have a clear plan for facing Makhachev, making the matchup too complicated. Dariush suggests Topuria viewed the Gaethje fight as both a money-making opportunity and a more manageable challenge from a tactical preparation standpoint. The lightweight contender indicated that developing a game plan for Gaethje is significantly simpler compared to the complexities of preparing for Makhachev.