Beneil Dariush breaks down entire UFC lightweight landscape for 2023 

Beneil Dariush recently broke down the entire UFC lightweight landscape for 2023.

Appearing in an interview with MMAJunkie, Dariush believes that Makhachev will likely take some time off after his recent fight and will fight at the end of the year.

Dariush intends to fight Charles Oliveira in a potential fight but doubts Fiziev's ability to defeat Justin Gaethje. He believes that if Fiziev defeats Gaethje, the title will be decided between him and the Azerbaijani.

Lastly, Dariush believes that if Chandler or Conor win their upcoming fights, there is a possibility that Conor will receive a title shot.

Sharing his take, the 33-year-old had this to say:

"I think Makhachev takes some time off. This is the first time he really was in a fight, I think he takes some time off, and he fights end of the year, he doesn't fight that early. That being said, I jump in, I beat Charles. I don't know if Fiziev can beat Justin [Gaethje]. If Fiziev beats Justin [Gaaethje], it's the two of us. It's between the two of us of who gets the title shot..."

He further continued:

"And then finally, you have Conor and Chandler in the mix. Obviously, if Chandler wins, I don't think he's gonna get a title shot, but if Conor wins, it's a possibility that they give him a title shot... It's one of those things."

Check out Beneil Dariush's interview with MMAJunkie in the video below[ 20:36 mark]:

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Beneil Dariush believes Rafael Fiziev might get a title shot ahead of him

UFC lightweight contender Beneil Dariush believes his fellow contender Rafael Fiziev might get a title shot ahead of him, despite Dariush having a six-fight win streak.

Dariush believes that if Fiziev defeats Justin Gaethje at UFC 286, the Azerbaijani fighter might be pushed ahead of him as the number one contender despite Dariush having the longest win streak in the lightweight division.

Dariush expressed his disappointment at the potential scenario but noted that it's a possibility he might have to face:

Speaking to The Schmo, Beneil Dariush said:

"The UFC have never come to me and said, 'You're next [in line for the title]'... I don't feel like they look at me as the number one contender. If anything, I think that if Gaethje and Fiziev... If they fight and Fiziev wins, [he has] a seven-fight win streak, he has a win over the number three guy, they might push him ahead of me. Which sucks, but they might."

Check out Dariush's interview below: