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At UFC 280, Beneil Dariush defeated Mateusz Gamrot, who had swiftly become one of the most talked-about lightweights in the competition, to keep his winning streak going.
Dariush never slowed down during the entire fight as he continued to pummel Gamrot with blows while displaying outstanding takedown defense and a destructive approach on the feet. Dariush defeated Gamrot late in the third round with a powerful overhand left, clinching his eighth straight victory in what is likely the strongest division in the sport.
Beneil Dariush feels like he's accomplished enough, but it's unlikely that he will be the next lightweight champion in the UFC, as Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov challenged featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski to be the first title defense of the Russian on Australian soil.
UFC president Dana White stated that featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is most likely going to face competition at 155 pounds despite the impressive winning streak. Dariush is now left to ponder what he must do to obtain a title match.
“If that didn’t do it, what else can I do?” Dariush said at the post-fight news conference. “If that performance, beating a guy like Gamrot – who some said he was undefeated coming into this fight – like beating a guy like that … Obviously, I didn’t finish him. He’s a lot tougher than I thought. I got kind of close in that last round.
“But if that’s not the proper way to ask (for a title shot), I need somebody to tell me how I should be asking and how I’m doing this wrong. If we’re talking about merit, I don’t think there’s anyone else.”
Although many people would find Dariush's situation upsetting, the 33-year-old is remaining composed. Dariush believes he will compete for UFC gold at some point.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Dariush said. “I’m going to beat down whoever I need to beat down. They could circle that belt around me all they want. They can try to avoid me all they want, but my day will come. What God has planned, no one will stop.”
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