(Editor’s note: Our MMA Junkie Radio interview with Beneil Dariush took place prior to his UFC 280 booking vs. Mateusz Gamrot was announced.)
UFC lightweight contender Beneil Dariush finally has booked what will be his first fight in 17 months, but it’s not what he was hoping for.
Dariush, No. 5 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings at 155 pounds, is set to meet No. 15 Mateusz Gamrot on Oct. 22 at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi. In the official UFC rankings, Dariush and Gamrot are ranked Nos. 6 and 9, respectively, so it’s a fine booking to be sure. It’s just that it’s another matchup against a lower-ranked opponent.
Given his seven-fight winning streak after dominating Tony Ferguson in May 2021, Dariush – whose long layoff was caused by an ankle injury – thought maybe, outside chance, that he could sneak into being one half of the vacant lightweight title fight at UFC 280. That, however, was going to depend on Charles Oliveira, who will headline the event against Islam Makhachev.
“I don’t know if I was hoping for it, but I knew if Charles did hold out for Conor (McGregor), they would make Islam and I for the belt,” Dariush told MMA Junkie Radio. “… I’m not too shocked about it or thrown off.”
The more realistic option Dariush (21-4-1 MMA, 15-4-1 UFC) hoped for was a fight with former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier. Dariush said he’s unclear if Poirier turned him down or if the UFC even offered him the fight.
Regardless, he gets it.
“A guy like me, let’s be honest: I’m not, like, a superstar,” Dariush said. “And the scary thing about me is I pretty much eat stars, is what I do. I eat the star, and I don’t become a star. So it’s a little bit of a tricky situation. It’s possible they didn’t even ask him.”
And so Gamrot it is. Riding a four-fight winning streak of his own, Gamrot has proven he’s no slouch coming off a unanimous decision victory over Arman Tsarukyan in his first UFC headliner last month.
On the bright side, Dariush said he could benefit by being on UFC 280 with Oliveira vs. Makhachev should something go astray with the title-fight main event.
“The good thing about going to Abu Dhabi is, let’s say Islam or Charles doesn’t show up, I would be the No. 1 replacement guy,” Dariush said.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 280.
Beneil Dariush thought Dustin Poirier fight made sense, but he’ll have to settle at UFC 280
