UFC star Beneil Dariush talked with The Sporting Tribune at UFC X about his current standing in the stacked lightweight division, as well as being honored with the 2024 Forrest Griffin Community Award on Thursday night.
He even gave prediction for Saturday's UFC 303 main event sequel between Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka at T-Mobile Arena.
The lightweight division is very competitive now. How do you view your position and what are your thoughts on the current landscape?
Beneil Dariush: I'm in a bit of a tough spot right? I'm kind of moving back, so whoever they give me next, I need to obviously make the statement. (I need to) remind everybody I'm still here. And with that statement, I can be very close to a title shot again. But that being said, I think the the lightweight division is really interesting right now.
What's been the toughest fight for you to prepare for in your career? And what do you think you showcased your skills the best?
BD: I think the Gamrot fight was one where everybody really kind of saw me and I stood out as far as skill wise. It was also a really tough way to get prepared for it because we had to wrestle. I love wrestling but it was hard on the body.
What does it means for you to be to be a leader in your community the way that you have been?
BD: It's been it's been an honor to receive the award. It's hard to like explain to people because like, it's not something I ever thought I would win. Especially 10 years ago, I was I was just a punk kid. So, where I am right now are just very grateful. Grateful to the UFC, grateful to God just to be the position that I'm in. Even though I had a rough year last year. You know, just still in a really very positive position.
What are your thoughts on the upcoming event at The Sphere? Is that somewhere you’d want to fight in the future?
BD: It looks... It looks so different. I almost want to sit there and kind of get it all in for why consider whether I want to play there. It might be distracting, you know? So but I think it would be really cool to be on that card. So Lord willing, I can get on that someday.
Outside of the main event, what are you most excited for on the card and why?
BD: Diego Lopez and Brian Ortega. Brian Ortega and I came up together. We used to fight at the same shows. So I'm interested to see how he does and I'm hoping for the best for him.
What are your predictions for the main event Saturday? How do you see the fight playing out?
BD: Pereira is the most interesting striker I've seen because typically people with so much power are so aggressive, and they don't really set up as much as you would. Other people would. When he's so patient, and he sets things up so well. And then once he's got everything going, start to explode and people think of him as such an aggressive striker.
I think he's a very methodical I think he's very patient. I think he's great. Maybe the best at setting things up. And that being said, I think he's gonna win. I think I'm looking at third or fourth round knockout. The only thing that could really make things more difficult is the takedowns. I think if Jiri can implement a lot of takedowns that it's a different kind of fight but what if right now I'm looking forward to it. It's gonna be good.