Tag: Beneil Dariush

Beneil Dariush: Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan winner will depend on how long UFC 300 fight lasts

Given his two most recent losses are to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan, Beneil Dariush provides insight into the UFC 300 matchup.

[autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] has broken down the matchup between former foes [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] and [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] at UFC 300.

Oliveira (34-9 MMA, 22-9 UFC) takes on Tsarukyan (21-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) April 13 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in what is being dubbed as a No. 1 contender fight. After amassing an eight-fight winning streak, Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) was stopped in back-to-back fights by Oliveira and Tsarukyan in his most recent appearances, giving him unique insight into the matchup.

“Man, that’s a really good fight,” Dariush told The Schmo. “I think Arman has a strength and speed advantage, but experience is with Charles. So, it’s just how far in the fight goes and how the fight goes. There’s a lot of components to it. But, yeah, it’s going to be a good fight.”

Dariush was tentative when picking a winner, but he thinks the longer the fight goes, the stronger former UFC lightweight champion Oliveira gets.

“It’s hard to say,” Dariush continued. “I think early I would go with Arman, but if we go deeper into the fight, I would go with Charles. He seems to come alive as the fight goes. He’s got a lot of tricks, and he’s a great fighter, too.

“Great fighters seem to find holes as a fight gets longer, and I think he could pull that off. But at the same time, Arman could finish it early on, or he could ride him out because he’s got all the skills.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

‘Touch of Gloves’: MMA figures show appreciation to those who shined brightest in 2023

What better time than the end of the year for UFC and MMA notables to reflect on who they appreciated most in 2023.

‘”As real as it gets” is the UFC’s slogan to describe just how realistic MMA combat can be. But before fighters get to any of the face punching, they typically share a moment of respect, a moment of peace that represents their mutual acknowledgment for the struggle to arrive at the moment: the touch of gloves.

Fighters might beat each other up for as much as 25 minutes, but the respect for one another and the sport seldom goes away and the martial arts spirt is always with them.

In this year’s edition of “Touch of Gloves,” we see that spirt come to life as fighters, coaches and more show appreciation to the people they think especially deserve a shoutout for what they did in 2023:

  • [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] on [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Ben Rothwell[/autotag] on [autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] on [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Cain Velasquez[/autotag] on [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] on [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag]
  • And many more

Enjoy!

Beneil Dariush contemplates fighting future after UFC Austin: ‘Do I go forward, or am I done kind of deal?’

UFC lightweight standout Beneil Dariush finds himself in a quandary after back-to-back stoppage losses.

UFC lightweight standout [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] finds himself in a quandary after back-to-back losses.

Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) suffered a first-round knockout to Arman Tsarukyan in the UFC on ESPN 52 headliner less than two weeks ago for his second consecutive stoppage loss. Prior to the skid, Dariush was on the cusp of a title shot after amassing an eight-fight winning streak.

Although his losses have come to top-tier competition in Tsarukyan and former champion Charles Oliveira, Dariush is in the midst of a mental battle as he tried to figure out what’s next and if he can still compete with the best.

“I’ve got to be honest with you guys: Last time I was here, it was maybe 2017 or 2018, I was in back-to-back losses,” Dariush told Submission Radio. “And my goal in this game is to be the best that I can be. And I just remember spending a lot of time in prayer and trying to figure out if I was done back then. And I’m kind of in the same spot right now. I’m just trying to figure out like, do I go forward or am I done kind of deal? Because I’m not trying to be like a 50-50 fighter or even a top-10 fighter. I’m trying to be No. 1 in the world. I want to be the best, and I’m not going to settle for anything less than that.

“So, yeah, I guess just that’s how I deal with it. I go back to prayer and see what the Lord kind of shows me. Last time, I had a lot of issues physically with my neck and just, I said I would solve those issues and then go back into the octagon and see how that goes. And I did that. I had a big change in my performance. I went from being 0-3 to like 8-0. And so, the neck made a big difference. But this time I don’t have any health issues. My neck is pretty good overall. I don’t have any issues with it. So, it’s a different spot I’m in than I was back then.”

Dariush tossed names like Dan Hooker and Benoit Saint-Denis as potential next opponents, which he considers to be matchups that excite him.

“I just want to know if I still got it,” Dariush said. “That’s like my biggest thing. Because it’s one thing to go into the training room and perform really well, and it’s another thing to go into that octagon and perform really well. And if I don’t have it, I need to know so that way I can find a way to put my energy into something else and move forward, because there’s no point if I can’t be the best.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 52.

UFC on ESPN 52 medical suspensions: Headliners, Bobby Green among 12 fighters facing 180 days off

A dozen UFC Austin competitors including Arman Tsarukyan, Beneil Dariush, and Bobby Green have been given lengthy suspensions by Texas.

UFC on ESPN 52 took place Saturday at Moody Center in Austin, Texas and featured a dozen fights.

Of the 24 competitors on the card, 12 fighters were suspended 180 days due to injuries sustained in their bouts, according to documentation from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), the commissioning body that oversaw the event.

Among those who received the lengthiest suspensions are both sides of the main event, Arman Tsarukyan and Beneil Dariush, as well as co-main eventer Bobby Green.

The TDLR does not reveal injury specifics, just the duration of the suspensions. Fighters are permitted to return to competition prior to the conclusion of their suspension durations should they be cleared by a doctor beforehand.

Check out the 24 medical suspension durations below:

Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Beneil Dariush after UFC on ESPN 52 loss?

Beneil Dariush’s seven-fight winning streak has flipped into consecutive KO losses, leaving questions about him after UFC on ESPN 52.

(ALSO SEE: Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Arman Tsarukyan after UFC on ESPN 52 win?)

[autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] was on the cusp of a title shot not long ago, but after UFC on ESPN 52 his place in the contender picture is fading.

Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) suffered a first-round knockout loss to Arman Tsarukyan (21-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) in Saturday’s lightweight headliner at Moody Center in Austin, Texas, putting him on a two-fight skid.

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It wasn’t long ago Dariush was on a seven-fight winning streak, but now he’s dropped back-to-back fights by first-round stoppage and has questions about what’s next.

What does the loss mean for Dariush? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on his future.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 52.

UFC on ESPN 52 post-event facts: Clay Guida sets dubious record with 18th octagon loss

Check out all the facts from UFC on ESPN 52, which saw a record two slam KOs and Clay Guida tying the UFC record for most losses.

The UFC’s third-to-last event of 2023 went down as one of the best of the year. UFC on ESPN 52 delivered with nine stoppages in 12 fights.

[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] (21-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) capped off the night with the quickest finish of the bunch. He dropped and stopped [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) just 64 seconds into their high-stakes lightweight headliner, solidifying himself as a top contender.

For more on the numbers behind the card, which featured a number of historic feats, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC on ESPN 52.

UFC on ESPN 52 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Four fighters get max non-title money

UFC on ESPN 52 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

AUSTIN, Texas – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 52 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $225,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC on ESPN 52 took place at Moody Center. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 52 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

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[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Rob Font[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Joaquim Silva[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Clay Guida[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Dustin Stoltzfus[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Punahele Soriano[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Miesha Tate[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Julia Avila[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Cody Brundage[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Zach Reese[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Drakkar Klose[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Joe Solecki[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Rodolfo Bellato[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Ihor Potieria[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Jared Gooden[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Wellington Turman[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Veronica Hardy[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jamey-Lyn Horth[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,520; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $52,000 while title challengers get $52,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-52 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $7,689,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $22,208,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 52.

Arman Tsarukyan def. Beneil Dariush at UFC on ESPN 52: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Arman Tsarukyan’s first-round knockout win over Beneil Dariush at UFC on ESPN 52 at Moody Center in Austin.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag]’s first-round knockout win over [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 52 at Moody Center in Austin, Texas. (Photos by Dustin Safranek, USA TODAY Sports)

Social media reacts to Arman Tsarukyan’s 64-second KO of Beneil Dariush at UFC on ESPN 52

The MMA community reacted to Arman Tsarukyan’s brutal knockout of Beneil Dariush in the UFC Austin main event.

[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] got the signature win on his resume he’s been looking for on Saturday when he emerged triumphant over [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] in the UFC on ESPN 52 main event.

Tsarukyan (21-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) took a big leap forward in the lightweight division with a 64-second kncokout victory against Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) in the headlining bout at Moody Center in Austin, Texas, and now he’s got only massive fights on the horizon at 155 pounds.

Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Tsarukyan beating Dariush at UFC on ESPN 52.

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UFC on ESPN 52 faceoff highlights: Noticeable height differences on main card

Check out the UFC on ESPN 25 ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs from Austin, Texas.

AUSTIN, Texas – The UFC on ESPN 52 ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs took place Friday at Moody Center, the site of Saturday’s fights, and MMA Junkie was in attendance.

Atop the bill, contenders [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] (22-5-1 MMA, 16-5-1 UFC) and [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] (20-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) go toe-to-toe in a five-round bout. The co-main event stays at lightweight as [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag] (31-14-1 MMA, 12-9-1 UFC) battles short-notice foe [autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag] (13-7 MMA, 6-4 UFC).

Also on the card, [autotag]Rob Font[/autotag] (20-7 MMA, 10-3-1 UFC) welcomes former UFC flyweight champion [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] (21-3-1 MMA, 10-6 UFC) to the bantamweight division. Other fights include [autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag] (15-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) vs. [autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag] (18-8 MMA, 12-8 UFC), and [autotag]Julia Avila[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) vs. [autotag]Miesha Tate[/autotag] (20-9 MMA, 6-6 UFC).

Check out the full ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs highlights in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 52.