LAS VEGAS – Beneil Dariush isn’t rattled entering UFC 248 despite past comments made by his opponent, Drakkar Klose.
In July 2019, Dariush (17-4-1 MMA, 11-4-1 UFC) and Klose (11-1-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) were supposed to fight at UFC on ESPN+ 13 in Sacramento, Calif. However, the week of the fight, Dariush pulled out due to injury. Klose criticized Dariush in an interview with MMA Junkie after the bout was scrapped and indicated he thought he may have been faking.
While Dairush saw some of the headlines, he didn’t let it bother him at the time – and he said he’s not letting it bother him heading into Saturday’s matchup.
“I heard a little bit, but didn’t take to too much of it,” Dariush told MMA Junkie at Thursday’s media day. “I figured he’s trying to provide for his family. He felt very emotional. Things were said. No problem. I’ve seen him during the week. He shook my hand. Everything seems fine. I feel the game is kind of manufactured.
“I’m supposed to hate a guy who has the same dream as me and probably does exactly the same thing I do everyday. He wakes up, trains hard two times a day, has a family, wants to support his family – and I’m supposed to hate this guy? It just seems silly to me. I couldn’t care less what he said. I care about what I’m going to do Saturday.”
While Klose claims to be toning back his antics heading into this fight, Dariush said he won’t be rattled by the trash talk if it does resurface.
“Maybe, I’ll just smile – or maybe I’ll just kick him,” Dariush said. “That’s the beauty of it. If he taunts me, I’ll just go after him. There’s no need for me to be like, ‘I’m going to taunt you back.’ No, I’m going to go in there and hit you. I’m going to take you down. I’m going to put an elbow in your face. I’m going to submit you or something – or I’m not going to. I’m going to lose the fight, but at least everything is clear.
“The truth is out there. You’re going to find it out in that octagon. That’s the best part. It’s not about what he said or I said. It’s about the truth. The truth is going to be found out Saturday.”
UFC 248 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
Check out MMA Junkie’s full UFC 248 pre-fight interview with Dariush in the video above.
Beneil Dariush not letting Drakkar Klose's previous accusations bother him entering UFC 248
