6 burning questions heading into UFC 248

MMA Junkie senior editor Dave Doyle takes you through the key UFC 248 storylines, including two title fights atop the bill.

Who will take a sneaky-hot fight between Beneil Dariush and Drakkar Klose?

Beneil Dariush (red gloves) at UFC Fight Night at InTrust Arena. (Kelly Ross, USA TODAY Sports)

There are no lack of intriguing subplots in the lightweight division, and the main-card bout between [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] and [autotag]Drakkar Klose[/autotag] is no exception.

In the case of Dariush (17-4-1 MMA, 11-4-1 UFC), who has been with the UFC since 2014, it seems he was written off awhile back. He won five straight fights between 2014-15, before losing to Michael Cheisa. That kicked off a 2-3-1 run.

But the Kings MMA competitor has rebounded for three straight wins, and he’s taken home “Performance of the Night” for finishes in each of his past two.

Klose (11-1-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC), meanwhile, has been quietly racking up the wins. He, too, is on a three-fight winning streak and is 6-1 in the UFC. But all his wins have gone the distance.

For Dariush, a win here bumps off an up-and-comer and announces he’s back. For Klose, going against a vet with a knack for interesting fights win or lose is a chance to say this is his time, and that he’s a fighter worth watching.

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