Beneil Dariush offered his perspective on why Ilia Topuria selected a fight with Justin Gaethje rather than Islam Makhachev. According to Dariush, Topuria viewed the Gaethje matchup as an opportunity to earn significant money while facing a more straightforward challenge. Dariush suggested that Topuria did not have a clear game plan for facing Makhachev, making that fight more difficult to prepare for strategically. In contrast, Dariush believes developing a fight plan for Gaethje is considerably easier, which influenced Topuria's decision. The comments provide insight into the tactical considerations fighters weigh when choosing opponents at the highest level of competition.
Beneil Dariush has weighed in on one of the more discussed decisions in lightweight politics, explaining why he believes Ilia Topuria opted to fight Justin Gaethje instead of pursuing a clash with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Dariush, a 37-year-old southpaw ranked eighth in the lightweight division with a 23-8-1 record, offered a candid strategic breakdown. The Kings MMA product suggested Topuria saw the Gaethje fight as a chance to earn major money against a comparatively manageable opponent, while a fight with Makhachev presented complications Topuria's camp had not yet solved. Dariush's view is that building a game plan for Gaethje is considerably more straightforward, and that practical reality drove the decision.
Topuria, the 29-year-old Spaniard currently ranked second in the lightweight division and first in the pound-for-pound rankings, carries a 17-1-0 record and produces 4.81 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the division's most active offensive threats. Despite those credentials, Dariush's implication is that Topuria's team did not feel confident mapping out a winning strategy against Makhachev.
That concern carries weight when you consider what Makhachev brings. The reigning champion holds a 28-1-0 record, lands takedowns at a rate of 3.2 per 15 minutes, and connects on 58 percent of his significant strikes — the highest accuracy figure among the three fighters mentioned. At 34, the Russian southpaw out of Eagles MMA has established himself as the consensus top fighter in the division and the number-one ranked pound-for-pound competitor according to the verified data.
Why it matters
- Topuria's path to undisputed lightweight supremacy runs through Makhachev, so any delay has long-term divisional consequences
- Dariush's comments frame the Gaethje bout as a calculated financial and tactical stepping stone rather than an avoidance of Makhachev entirely
- The exchange highlights how fight selection at the elite level blends strategic preparation with commercial incentive
