Beneil Dariush

Beneil Dariush is a 35-year-old southpaw lightweight with a professional record of 23-8-1, though recent performances show a 6-1 record over his last eight fights prior to a November 2025 loss. Operating at 155 pounds with a 72-inch reach, Dariush employs a balanced mixed martial arts approach anchored by solid wrestling and submission prowess.

He averages 3.74 strikes landed per minute with 49% accuracy while maintaining strong defensive metrics, including 57% striking defense and an impressive 82% takedown defense. His grappling credentials are evident in a 2.21 takedown average per 15 minutes and 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a consistent threat off his back.

Recent victories underscore his consistency: a dominant unanimous decision over Mateusz Gamrot in October 2022, a submission finish of Frank Camacho in the first round in 2019, and a decisive win against Tony Ferguson in May 2021. However, Dariush suffered a devastating knockout loss to Benoit Saint Denis in November 2025 just 16 seconds into round one, marking a significant setback in his lightweight title aspirations and raising questions about his current standing in a competitive division.