It appears that Beneil Dariush’s journey in the UFC is far from over despite recent challenges.
At UFC 322 in November, the experienced lightweight fighter faced another setback, adding a loss to his record and exiting the cage amid much scrutiny. Dariush was featured in the main card, which was headlined by Islam Makhachev’s welterweight title bout. At 36 years old, Dariush is eager to re-establish himself as a contender in a division long dominated by the Dagestani before he gave up the title in 2025.
However, Benoît Saint-Denis delivered a stunning defeat to Dariush in just 16 seconds, thrilling the Madison Square Garden audience and handing Dariush another knockout loss. This marked his third knockout in four fights, sparking speculation about whether he should retire from MMA. Nevertheless, the ranked lightweight fighter is already contemplating ways to prolong his career.
After confirming his well-being following the UFC 322 knockout, Dariush shared his future plans in an interview on Submission Radio weeks later. Contrary to retirement rumors, he revealed that he is seriously considering moving up to the welterweight division. “I’m just trying to figure it out,” he said, explaining he delayed the interview due to the possibility of transitioning to 170 pounds. He’s currently exploring whether competing at lightweight (155 pounds) still makes sense for him and plans to undergo testing with the UFC.
Dariush believes his performance at UFC 322 was among his best but suspects weight cutting might have affected his power. He hopes moving to 170 pounds will reduce the physical toll and fatigue he feels, as he typically trains with larger fighters and doesn’t naturally weigh as light. He remains enthusiastic about fighting and confident that with the right weight cut, he can still handle the hits.
Dariush’s struggles began about two and a half years ago at UFC 289, where Charles Oliveira ended his fight by TKO in the first round. A few months later, Dariush was knocked out by Arman Tsarukyan within just over a minute in the UFC Austin main event.
On the matter of age and retirement, UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has openly expressed his views on the ideal retirement age for fighters. In a recent public discussion, Khabib asserted that no fighter should compete past the age of 35. He argued that after 35, fighters should step aside to make way for younger talent and avoid the risks associated with declining performance. According to Khabib, continuing beyond this age means fighting primarily for monetary reasons rather than being at one’s best.
Fan Take: This news is significant for fight fans as it highlights the ongoing debate about longevity and performance in MMA. Dariush’s potential move to welterweight could bring fresh excitement and reshape his career, while also drawing attention to the broader conversation about athlete health and retirement timing in the sport.
