UFC 322 could not have asked for a better start to its main card. After a run of explosive early prelims and prelims, the action officially kicked off with a catchweight showdown between veterans Beneil Dariush and Benoit Saint-Denis. The bout was originally set for lightweight, but after Dariush missed weight on Friday, it was shifted to a catchweight. This one could have had title implications far down the line, but ‘God of War’ decided he was not going to spend more than 16 seconds on business!

Even though Dariush appeared to have a size advantage, it meant little once the fight began. As soon as the cage door closed, Benoit Saint-Denis delivered exactly what the Madison Square Garden crowd came to see. In just 16 seconds, the number 13-ranked lightweight star flattened the number 9-ranked Beneil Dariush with a devastating face-plant knockout. The win earned the Frenchman a share of Dariush’s purse and pushed his winning streak to three. For the 36-year-old Dariush, the defeat ended any realistic hopes of climbing back into the title picture.

This is also the third straight finish for Benoit Saint-Denis, which skyrockets his momentum in the division. Former UFC champion Henry Cejudo, who posted on X, even acknowledged this UFC 322 performance: “Benoit Saint-Denis is on a compelling revenge tour!” This was the perfect way to shake off two back-to-back losses to Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano, both of which came via finishes. Things, however, remain complicated for Beneil Dariush, who came in heavy on the scales and came up short in the cage.

This marked the second time in his 30-fight professional career that fans were frustrated by him missing weight. Previously, he came in two pounds over in 2020 for his fight against Scott Holtzman, which Dariush still won with a spinning back fist in just one round. This time, however, the outcome was far different. Meanwhile, Benoit Saint-Denis continued his streak of finishes, cementing his reputation as one of the most exciting fighters in the division, while fans called for the Iranian-American star to be released as soon as possible.

Social media erupts as Benoit Saint-Denis “smokes” Beneil Dariush at UFC 322

One fan wrote on X, “Wtf what a start to the main card!!! BSD with the KO,” which was echoed by another user who posted, “BSD faceplants Dariush in second.” With this decisive victory over Beneil Dariush, BSD has positioned himself for a significant rise in the lightweight rankings, most likely entering the top 10 in the coming Tuesday’s update.

Not all fans, however, were celebrating the French MMA star’s win at UFC 322. Some expressed concern for Beneil Dariush, describing the situation as a form of torture for the Iranian-American fighter. One fan wrote, “Dear @danawhite, On behalf of the MMA community, I respectfully request that you allow Beneil Dariush to be released from his contract. This is a torcher and it needs to end right now, and we hope you will consider this matter with the respect it warrants.”

Beneil Dariush has been with the UFC for over a decade, enjoying early success with multiple win streaks. Many of these victories, however, came against subpar or out-of-form opponents, such as Tony Ferguson. His most recent win prior to facing Benoit Saint-Denis was against Renato Moicano, following similar quick, decisive losses to top-tier fighters like Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan. At 36, the path forward for Dariush in the division is limited.

Meanwhile, fans continued to celebrate Benoit Saint-Denis’ performance. One fan commented, “Oh, wow!!!! That was insane! BSD wasted no time getting that finish! 16seconds.”

Since his UFC debut, Saint-Denis has aimed to reach the top, though he previously fell short against elite fighters such as Dustin Poirier. With his latest win over Beneil Dariush, senior journalists like Ariel Helwani suggest the French star is back in the conversation, noting, “He’s all the way back now.” Another fan praised him, writing, “BSD OH MY F*CKING GOD.”

With the buzz surrounding Benoit Saint-Denis’ return to action, how do you see the Frenchman’s future under Dana White & Co., especially considering he is only 29 years old? Share your thoughts below.