Beneil Dariush names three potential opponents for next fight: "The belt doesn't make me feel special"
Beneil Dariush recently scored an emphatic decision victory over surging Polish contender Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 280. Dariush is unwilling to wait around for his much deserved shot at the lightweight title and is already on the hunt for an opponent.
Not the kind to eye money fights against Conor McGregor, Dariush has lived up to his reputation by seeking out the toughest fights in the division as always. He is eyeing a matchup against recently dethroned champion Charles Oliveira, surging Kyrgyz contender Rafael Fiziev, or the winner of the upcoming Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler bout at UFC 281.
The 33-year-old recently told Morning Kombat's Luke Thomas:
"I guess right now my options are the winner of Dustin Poirier [vs. Michael Chandler], Charles [Oliveira], [Rafael] Fiziev. Those are the three options."
Dariush's UFC 280 victory over Gamrot was his eighth in a row, making him arguably the most deserving of a lightweight title shot. However, Islam Makhachev dethroned Oliveira on the same card and went on to set up a clash against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.
Although both fighters have promised Dariush a title shot next, he isn't one to wait around:
"You know you're not gonna be able to dangle the belt in front of me. The belt doesn't make me feel special."
Catch Beneil Dariush's comments (14:59) below:
Beneil Dariush on who Alexander Volkanovski should fight next
Beneil Dariush has suggested an alternate opponent for Alexander Volkanovski as he continues to reiterate his demands for a title shot. He still considers himself more deserving of a title shot than Volkanovski who, according to him, should fight Arnold Allen.
Allen recently earned a stoppage win over Calvin Kattar after 'The Boston Finisher' compromised his knee. According to Dariush, the UFC would do better to build up a champ vs. champ clash than directly pit Volkanovski against Makhachev, who just secured the title.
In the same interview, he said:
"I think Volkanovski should really consider fighting Arnold Allen. I'll fight Makhachev and then we'll unite the belts, but whatever... I think that's a better idea because I think it builds it up more. Because we just started building this. There's no theme behind it. But if you put me against Makhachev in Perth and you put him against Allen and everything goes the way it's supposed to, I think it's a better fight. But whatever."