A few days ago, lightweight contender Beneil Dariush stirred the pot by making a bold claim about fighting Islam Makhachev. The 36-year-old sounded confident in his abilities to beat the Dagestani fighter on short notice at UFC 311.
Dariush’s upcoming opponent, Renato Moicano, stepped up against Makhachev for the title bout after Arman Tsarukyan withdrew due to injury. Moicano would lose in the first round via submission.
Beneil Dariush Defends His Islam Makhachev Claims
Weeks after Makhachev’s successful title defense, Dariush claimed he would have won had he replaced Tsarukyan that night.
“I would’ve won,” Dariush told MMA Junkie. “It would’ve been a finish for sure… I don’t think I was gonna lose that fight. I [am] pretty sure I was gonna win that fight.” However, fans dismissed his claim, with some even ridiculing the fighter. But now, he has come out in his defense.
Speaking on “Submission Radio” on May 21, Dariush was asked to respond to his comments about coming out on top against Makhachev.
“If people don’t like that, then they don’t understand what a fighter is. I don’t fight just to be a fighter. I fight because I want to be the best in the world, and I believe I can be the best in the world,” Dariush said.
“I believe if I’m physically, mentally, spiritually in the right place, I think I could beat anybody in the world. So yeah. And that day, I remember just feeling great in that weight cut, and I remember just thinking to myself, this is the sharpest I’ve ever been.”
Even though Dariush has lost to Charles Oliveria and Tsarukyan in his last two fights, he remains one of the most accomplished fighters in the division. Before his two back-to-back losses, he had an impressive 8 match winning streak, the longest in the lightweight division history.
Dariush reminded fans, “So why would I not think I could beat him, you know what I mean? So people could, you know, hate on me all they want, but you know, if you’re not crazy, you’re in the wrong sport. If I said this to you like two years ago, before I was on my win streak, people would have been like, ‘Oh yeah, totally.’ It is what it is, people have a short memory.”
After bursting on the scene, Dariush has dropped down the rankings in the lightweight division. He hopes to get back on track and make his mark in the new-look division.
Beneil Dariush Has The Chance to Move Up The Rankings At UFC 317
With Islam Makhachev set to move to welterweight, the lightweight division suddenly becomes an enticing prospect for many fighters.
At UFC 317, Ilia Topuria and Oliveira will compete for the vacant title, and Dariush will finally have his fight against Moicano. Currently ranked at No. 9, a win for Dariush on June 28 could put him back in the conversation for a title bout down the line.
A loss could be damaging not only for his prospects but also his credibility, especially after coming under fire for his comments on beating Islam Makhachev.