Beneil Dariush Wants Dana White to Hire the ‘Best Flyweight in the World’ Maikel Perez Into the UFC Roster

Published 02/10/2021, 6:38 AM EST

Beneil Dariush picked up an impressive win over Carlos Diego Ferreira at UFC Fight Night 184 last weekend. Dariush won a split-decision over the Brazilian Ferreira, but many believed it should have been unanimous considering the former’s dominance in the first and second rounds.

In his post-fight interview, Dariush didn’t name any opponent for his next outing. Instead, he used the moment to call for an opportunity for his friend and LFA flyweight contender, Maikel Perez. The UFC fighter believes ‘Super’ Perez is the best flyweight in the world.

In a tweet, he showed the world who Perez is and said, “What’s up guys? I just picked up my son, Maikel. This is a guy’s this is the guy, this is Maikel Perez. This is the best flyweight in the world, this is the guy I was talking about Saturday after my flight.”

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RT please
This guy (@Maikelp12Perez) put his whole life on hold to achieve his dream of competing in the @ufc. @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite give this guy one chance to prove himself. #lfachamp #olympian #justoneshot pic.twitter.com/uIA29lzz1s
— Beneil Dariush (@beneildariush) February 10, 2021

“So Dana White, Mick Maynard, if you’re listening, all we want is just one chance. Give us one chance to fight and let him show what he’s got. That’s all we’re asking for. Alright guys, take care,” said Dariush.

Given Dariush’s appeal and stock, there will be a lot of attention directed to Maikel Perez. However, not many fans will know who he is.

Maikel Perez- Who is the fighter Beneil Dariush named at UFC Fight Night?

Perez is a perennial LFA flyweight contender with a professional record of 7-2. He fought recent UFC title challenger Brandon Moreno in 2019 for the LFA flyweight championship in a losing effort. The Cuban, Perez, also happens to be a former Olympian as he competed in freestyle wrestling in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

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The 37-year-old is a world-class fighter in his own right, but has never got the chance to compete inside the prestigious Octagon. So, it was a magnificent gesture on Dariush’s part to utilize his time in fame to call for a shot for his friend. He urged the UFC President to not consider his age and just give him one shot.

White is always keen to add talented fighters to his roster. Hence, it will be also interesting to see if Dana White and Mick Maynard grant Dariush’s plea and give Perez an opportunity to fight in the UFC.

What did you make of Beneil Dariush’s gesture? Should Maikel Perez get a chance in the UFC?

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Written by:

Apratim Banerjee is an MMA author for EssentiallySports and has been writing professionally for almost a year. Before his current gig, Apratim worked as a UFC writer for Sportskeeda. A long-time MMA fan, Apratim has developed a critical eye for the sport that has helped him transfer his vast knowledge to his copies and give hardcore and casual readers a detailed insight into the fights and fighters.

Beneil Dariush Wants Dana White to Hire the ‘Best Flyweight in the World’ Maikel Perez Into the UFC Roster

Maikel Perez- Who is the fighter Beneil Dariush named at UFC Fight Night?

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