Lightweight Contender Beneil Dariush, Who Once Claimed He Could Finish Islam Makhachev, Set for Key UFC 322 Bout

UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden is shaping up to be a blockbuster event with significant title fights and a highly anticipated lightweight clash, featuring a fighter who famously asserted he could defeat Islam Makhachev on short notice.

UFC 322 Main Events and Key Matchups

Another compelling fight has been confirmed for UFC 322, scheduled to take place at New York City`s iconic Madison Square Garden. This annual pay-per-view event will feature two championship bouts, promising thrilling action and potentially historic moments.

The card will see flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko defend her title against Zhang Weili in the co-main event. In the headliner, Islam Makhachev, fresh off a dominant run in the lightweight division, will challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight championship, seeking to claim two-division glory.

Beyond the main attractions, the undercard for Makhachev’s return is now slated to include a familiar name from the lightweight division, a contender frequently mentioned in discussions about potential opponents for the Dagestani champion.

Beneil Dariush vs. Benoit Saint-Denis Added to UFC 322

In addition to the headlining champions and challengers, the UFC 322 lineup on November 15 is expanding with other prominent fighters, including Leon Edwards and Erin Blanchfield. A significant lightweight encounter has now been confirmed: the #9 ranked Beneil Dariush will face #13 ranked Benoit Saint-Denis. The news of this exciting matchup has been confirmed by Saint-Denis’s management.

Recent Momentum for Both Fighters

Both athletes are entering this pivotal fight with recent strong performances. Beneil Dariush, aged 36, successfully returned to the win column this past June at UFC 317, securing a victory over former title challenger Renato Moicano.

Benoit Saint-Denis, known as `God of War,` has also built impressive momentum. He demonstrated his formidable skills by submitting Mauricio Ruffy in dominant fashion at UFC Paris in September and had previously defeated Kyle Prepolec. Saint-Denis will now look to elevate his standing and break into the top 10 of the lightweight division at Dariush’s expense.

Beneil Dariush`s Bold Claims Against Islam Makhachev

This upcoming fight brings Beneil Dariush back into the spotlight, especially concerning his past remarks about Islam Makhachev. Prior to his fight with Moicano at UFC 317, Dariush’s original booking was affected when Islam Makhachev unexpectedly needed a last-minute opponent in January for UFC 311.

Renato Moicano ultimately stepped in to face Makhachev at UFC 311 after Arman Tsarukyan withdrew, leaving Dariush off that card. Moicano was swiftly submitted by Makhachev in the first round.

Months following that event, Dariush, currently ranked #9, openly discussed how he believed he would have fared against the champion on short notice. He confidently asserted that he would not only have defeated Makhachev but would have secured a finish.

“I would’ve won,” Dariush stated. “It would’ve been a finish for sure.” He elaborated on his reasoning: “It wasn’t gonna go five rounds. The way Makhachev and I fight, it’s not going five rounds. Neither of us have ever lost a decision. He doesn’t lose decisions. I don’t lose decisions.”

Dariush concluded, expressing firm belief in his capability: “I don’t think I was gonna lose that fight. I thought pretty sure I was gonna win that fight.”