“I truly believe these two guys, they are best in the world. This is the two best lightweights in the world right now, and it’s going to be a very, very exciting fight for me, for us, for Islam. Who’s going to win here, they’re going to fight for the title, like middle of next year” – Khabib Nurmagomedov said this in December 2021, a few months before Islam Makhachev and Beneil Dariush‘s eventually canceled bout. That’s how highly rated Dariush was at the time! Where did it all go wrong for him then?

Dariush has long been a thorn in the side of the lightweight division. With a near-finish of former interim champion Tony Ferguson and a decision win against UFC Rio headliner Mateusz Gamrot, he’s established himself among the elite. But despite his victories, ‘Benny’ has consistently been passed over for title shots. And he’s had enough.

Beneil Dariush is coming for UFC gold, whether you like it or not

Beneil Dariush expressed his frustrations openly in an interview with Submission Radio. “To some degree, I think they protect some of their guys. Like, you know, they don’t want me to spoil some of these guys. So, to some degree, they also have to, you know, unless they have to give me a top-ranked guy, they don’t want to give me a top-ranked guy,” he said.

He claimed that after asking for matches with Dan Hooker, Max Holloway, and Paddy Pimblett, the UFC informed him that none were available, forcing him to face an opponent outside the top ten. “Or it was a Gamrot fight again, and I ended up with Benoit,” he added. Beneil Dariush sees a simple road forward: dominate and make it difficult for the UFC to ignore him, finally giving him a fight against the champion Ilia Topuria.

“I have to put myself in a position where there’s no other choice [than to give me a title fight]. That’s what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna give them no other choice,” he told Helen Yee ahead of his UFC 322 clash with Benoit Saint-Denis. The 36-year-old is determined to make a statement with this bout, having won nine of his last eleven fights.

Even during an eight-fight winning streak from 2019 to 2022, the 36-year-old was never granted an opportunity to fight for the lightweight throne. Meanwhile, others, notably Alexander Volkanovski, have stepped in for shots at the undisputed belt, leaving Beneil Dariush with more questions than answers.

Dan Hooker’s comments after Dariush beat Ferguson come to mind. Back in June 2021, ‘The Hangman said, “I feel like Beneil’s that ugly girl at the dance. Now Beneil, I’m not calling you ugly mate, but I don’t mean that in an offensive way. I mean that as in I feel like he’s probably the most talented guy, skill for skill.

“I feel like he’s the most skilled guy in the division, I feel like he’s one of the most well rounded guys, but he doesn’t have the name recognition that some of the other guys in the top five have. Like, if you’re looking at the top five in the division, Beneil Dariush is probably the most unknown guy, but in my opinion the most underrated guy”

However, it is worth noting that Beneil Dariush’s situation is not unusual in the UFC. Fighters such as Jimmie Rivera and Cub Swanson also achieved top-five status in the past without ever receiving a title opportunity, proving that even superior records do not guarantee opportunities. But for Dariush, each win is a calculated move to push the promotion’s hand.

Beneil Dariush promises a title run after UFC 322

Even after his eight-fight winning streak ended, the 36-year-old is certain that his best performances are yet to come. ‘Benny’ sees an opportunity against Benoit Saint-Denis to remind the division and UFC brass of why he has long been a top contender.

“It’s good to be coming off a victory—losing is really hard for me,” Dariush told MMA Junkie Radio. “I’ve spent a lot of time on my craft and believe I’m the best in the world, and I want my opportunity to prove it. I don’t feel like I’m going to slow down. I think things are going to turn around, and I’m going to go on an even greater run than I was on before.”

The match against Saint Denis is more than just a fight; it’s a message. Benny said, “He’s very well-rounded. I can win in many different ways, and I can also lose in many different ways.” He further added, “It’s going to be a tactical fight… it’s the little gaps in MMA that make a big difference, so I just have to stay sharp.”

With UFC 322 approaching, Dariush isn’t just aiming for a win; he’s laying the groundwork for a championship run that, until now, has eluded him.