Beneil Dariush will ‘take Justin Gaethje’s recommendation and probably riot’ if UFC skips him for subsequent title shot

Beneil Dariush is perhaps essentially the most level-headed contender on the whole UFC roster, however even he has his breaking level.

Regardless of an eight-fight win streak within the light-weight division, Dariush was advised underneath no unsure phrases that he wasn’t going to get a title shot by simply sitting and ready. That information got here on the heels of ex-lightweight champion Charles Oliveira struggling an harm, which delayed the battle with Dariush from UFC 288 in Might to UFC 289 in July.

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Dariush has been right here earlier than, after all, so it was essential for him to achieve assurances from the UFC about his future earlier than agreeing to the brand new battle date with Oliveira. That’s additionally why Dariush is assured {that a} win on June 10 will lastly give him the chance to vie for UFC gold — and if it doesn’t, he may lastly lose his persistence.

“UFC just isn’t the kind to typically give their phrase,” Dariush defined when chatting with MMA Preventing. “Earlier than I fought Mateusz [Gamrot], I had a sense they weren’t going to present me the title shot, so I stated, ‘Hey, if I beat this man, I get a title shot proper?’ They stated, ‘We don’t know,’ principally.

“This time after I was speaking to them, they stated if I beat Charles Oliveira, I’m the No. 1 contender. It’s not typically they offer me their phrase. This time they did.”

When Dariush sat down with the UFC for that dialog previous to agreeing to the brand new towards Oliveira, he was knowledgeable that Dustin Poirier was at the moment the highest contender within the light-weight division.

After all, Dariush wouldn’t refute claims that Poirier is among the greatest fighters on the planet, however that also didn’t clarify why the Louisiana native was supposedly forward of him when it got here to a possible title shot.

“To be trustworthy with you, I assumed I used to be the No. 1 contender already, however they didn’t assume so,” Dariush stated. “That’s principally what it was. My entire factor was, Dustin’s had two title pictures, I consider, and he was a former interim champ. He’s had his alternatives on the belt and he’s at the moment on a one-fight win streak towards Michael Chandler. He had an ideal battle with Michael Chandler, however he’s had his alternatives.

“At this level, I actually consider the leisure half is a a lot greater issue than rankings. The rankings might be moved primarily based in your leisure worth. That half sucks, however I additionally perceive it’s a enterprise, and to ensure that a enterprise to proceed, it must be worthwhile. That’s what the UFC is doing.”

Poirier’s title getting talked about could have simply been the easiest way to coax Dariush into accepting the brand new date with Oliveira, however then, only in the near past, the stakes of Poirier’s subsequent matchup modified once more.

On July 29, Poirier battles Justin Gaethje in the principle occasion of UFC 291, with the winner being topped the second-ever “BMF” champion. Even Dariush has nothing however glowing reward for that little bit of matchmaking from the UFC, though he can’t assist however ponder whether maybe Poirier or Gaethje might usurp him within the hierarchy of title rivalry.

“The battle itself, I really like the battle. What a battle,” Dariush stated. “These guys, they’ve such an excellent type, each of them, and the way in which it clashes, I believe it’s going to be fireworks identical to the final battle. The battle, I really like.

“The results of that battle, these is perhaps somewhat bit extra troublesome for me, however general I really like the battle.”

As a lot as it’d ratchet up any potential scrutiny surrounding Dariush’s efficiency in his subsequent battle towards Oliveira, he’s staying calm within the face of chaos.

He believes the UFC will comply with by way of with the promise of a title shot after another win. But when that doesn’t occur, the 34-year-old veteran may lastly have cause to rage.

“I’m going to take them at their phrase,” Dariush stated of the UFC. “If it’s not so, I’m going to take Justin Gaethje’s recommendation and probably riot.”