Beneil Dariush isn’t going to be waiting around for a title shot.
After Dariush defeated Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi, it was clear he was a top contender at lightweight. Yet, with Islam Makhachev set to face featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284, Dariush wants to remain active and plans to return in March and has two names in mind.
Beneil Dariush on His Next Opponent
“I don’t know what UFC’s gameplan is for me. I don’t know if I’m ever going to fight for that belt. I have the option of waiting and fighting the winner, but if Volkanovski wins and decides to defend his featherweight belt, I might end up waiting a whole year and maybe I end up fighting in 2024,” Dariush said to UFC.com. “I don’t think there is anybody who can jump in front of me right now, but my job is winning fights, so let’s fight Dustin Poirier or Charles Oliveira. March is a good timetable for me.
“I like fighting,” Dariush continued. “I get bored not fighting. I get bored not preparing for an opponent. This is my job and I want to do it. That’s it. It’s not about money or guaranteeing the title shot, it’s that I want to fight the best guys in the world. I think Dustin Poirier or Charles Oliveira are those guys.”
Although many would advise Beneil Dariush to wait for a title shot, he says he just wants to fight and also wants to compete against the best which is why he wants Poirier or Oliveira next.
“If they have a close fight, I’d love to fight them both, but I do want to fight Oliveira and I do want to fight Poirier. Basically, I want to fight everyone,” Dariush said. “I really just want to compete with the best in the world, and whatever order I fight these guys is fine with me. I don’t have a ton of time left in my career, so this is my chance.”
Beneil Dariush extended his win streak to eight with a decision win over Gamrot at UFC 280. During his win streak, he also beat the likes of Tony Ferguson, Diego Ferreira, Drakkar Klose, and Drew Dober among others.
