Beneil Dariush faces the task of regaining his standing towards the UFC lightweight title.
Dariush’s UFC 289 event did not unfold as anticipated. He competed against ex-champion Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of the evening, where the Urmia, Iran native saw his impressive eight-bout winning streak broken.
The bout began as a fairly competitive one, with most of the action taking place on the ground and Dariush holding the upper hand. However, “do Bronx” managed to stand late in the round, knocking Dariush out with a series of punches after a head kick left Dariush reeling. Although it was only Dariush’s fifth loss in his 28-fight career, it was perhaps the most crushing.
The 34-year-old contender, who would have potentially been the next title challenger for Islam Makhachev at UFC 294, confessed that he wasn’t at his best. He admitted to Submission Radio (h/t MMA Mania), “I was one step behind… I just didn’t feel like myself.”
Having previously never lost two fights in a row, Dariush usually bounces back stronger. He remains focused on his 2023 goal of engaging in at least one more bout, a determination that has only been intensified following the recent defeat.
Expressing his determination, Dariush said, “At this point, I just need to know that I’m healthy and I can get back inside that octagon. Man, please, before the end of the year… I would like to fight before the end of the year… The only thing I can really do is have another fight, show the world why I was considered such a contender.”
Hence, despite the loss, Dariush is committed to recovering and returning stronger. His mindset is on improving, understanding his previous mistakes, and preparing for his next fight, hoping to step into the octagon before the year ends.
TOP STORIES
- Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva comes out of retirement once again, requesting a rematch with his last opponent.
- Jared Cannonier is only interested in fighting Khamzat Chimaev if it’s for a title shot.
- Israel Adesanya recalls being arrested at the airport following UFC 281 title fight loss.
- Fighters and fans react to the intense Jared Cannonier vs. Marvin Vettori brawl at UFC Vegas 75.
- Jared Cannonier breaks records with his performance in the main event against Marvin Vettori at UFC Vegas 75.
- Fighters react to Keith Peterson’s crucial error at UFC Vegas 75.
- MMA fighters celebrate Father’s Day.
- Arman Tsarukyan expresses interest in fighting Beneil Dariush but prefers Michael Chandler.
- Anthony Smith gives his assessment of MMA’s fan base in 2023.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Guram Kutateladze (12-3) vs. Elves Brener (14-3); UFC Vegas 76, July 1
- Yana Santos (14-7, 1 NC) vs. Karol Rosa (16-5); UFC Vegas 76, July 1
- Sean Woodson (9-1-1) vs. Steve Garcia Jr. (14-5); UFC Nashville, Aug. 5
- Bruno Silva (13-5-2, 1 NC) vs. Cody Durden (15-4-1); UFC Vegas 79, Sept. 23
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Dariush has many great matchups to choose from. All the fathers out there, we hope you enjoyed a pleasant Father’s Day. Thank you for reading!
POLL RESULTS
Last Week’s Results:
Friday: 66% of 419 total votes believe Charles Oliveira’s chances against Islam Makhachev improved after their first fight.
Thursday: 72% of 503 voters do not think Islam Makhachev will hold titles in two divisions before he retires.
Wednesday: 49% of 362 voters thought Patricio Pitbull and Vadim Nemkov would win last weekend. However, Sergio Pettis and Nemkovs both defeated Pitbull and Yoel Romero via unanimous decisions at Bellator 297.
Tuesday: 63% of 520 voters thought Marvin Vettori would win over the weekend. Jared Cannonier defeated Vettori via unanimous decision in UFC Vegas 75’s main event.
Monday: 70% of 470 voters thought Charles Oliveira 2 should be next for Islam Makhachev.
Exit Poll: Who should Dariush fight next?
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Beneil Dariush
Who did Beneil Dariush fight at UFC 289?
Beneil Dariush fought against former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 289.
What was the outcome of the Dariush vs. Oliveira fight at UFC 289?
Dariush was defeated by Oliveira. The loss ended his impressive eight-bout winning streak.
What was Dariush’s feeling about his performance at UFC 289?
Dariush acknowledged that he wasn’t at his best during the fight. He felt he was one step behind and that he couldn’t execute his strategies effectively.
What is Beneil Dariush’s future plan after the defeat at UFC 289?
Dariush intends to bounce back from the defeat and is keen to have another fight before the end of 2023.
Has Beneil Dariush lost back-to-back fights in his career?
No, Beneil Dariush has never lost back-to-back fights in his career. He’s known to usually come back stronger after a defeat.
More about Beneil Dariush
- UFC 289 Event
- Profile of Beneil Dariush
- Profile of Charles Oliveira
- Submission Radio Interview
- MMA Mania Coverage
5 comments
One of the hardest things in sports is admitting defeat. respect to Dariush for his honest reflection. he’ll be back stronger.
Dariush just needs to regroup and refocus. Hes a great fighter, he’ll be back!
oliveira’s been on fire recently!! hard to beat him even at your best, dariush did well but wasnt his day.
U knw what… I really thought dariush was going to take it! 🙁
Tough loss for Dariush man. he’s got a lot of spirit tho. hope he bounces back soon.