Beneil Dariush picks 4 names who can best Islam Makhachev at welterweight

Beneil Dariush doesn't believe Islam Makhachev is destined for success if ever decides to challenge himself in the welterweight division.

Makhachev recently made his first title defense at UFC 284 when he defeated Alexander Volkanovski via unanimous decision. The scorecards don't necessarily tell the full story, however, as the two men went to war across five-rounds in a Fight of the Year contender.

Despite coming up short against the Russian fighter, 'The Great' has been credited with finding holes in Makhachev's game after he demonstrated some stunning takedown defense and grappling with the former Sambo world champion.

In an interview with Submission Radio, lightweight contender Beneil Dariush weighed in on Islam Makhachev's performance and claimed there were a number of fighters at 170lbs who would exploit the same holes Volkanovski did:

"There are better wrestlers than him in the welterweight division. Colby's a great wrestler, Khamzat's a great wrestler. If Usman sticks around, he's a stud man. I think Leon [Edwards] is the most complete fighter in the UFC...I don't know man, I don't think Welterweight will be an easy feat for Makhachev, I don't."

Catch Beneil Dariush's comments here [20:00]:

Coach Eugene Bareman weighs in on Islam Makhachev being snubbed for No.1 in pound-for-pound rankings

UFC 284 not only featured the lightweight champion and featherweight champion going head-to-head, but also the No.1 and No.2 ranked fighters in the entire organization.

Islam Makhachev was making his first title defense versus Alexander Volkanovski, whereas the Australian fighter was thought to be putting his No.1 P4P ranking on the line. Following the culmination of their epic bout, however, the latest UFC rankings update has kept 'The Great' in the top spot.

Speaking on Ariel Helwani's The MMA Hour, Bareman, who is the coach of 'Volk', believes that retaining his spot is warranted. According to the 43-year-old, the P4P list is a people's choice award, which he stated Volkanovski certainly earned after his performance versus Islam Makhachev:

"The pound-for-pound fighter is a people's choice award, in my opinion. Is it Islam? It's definitely not Islam. Is it Israel? It's definitely not Israel. Islam doesn't have, in my opinion, the credentials and good enough stand-up, refined enough stand-up skills to be pound-for-pound. Israel doesn't have refined enough wrestling skills for him to be pound-for-pound No.1."

Bareman added:

"I know someone that does have really refined stand-up, equally as good wrestling and wrestling defense, who probably deserves that No.1 spot, and has fought the who's who in his division, defended many times, and tried to go up in weight, and that guy is Alex Volkanovski, who I think is the rightful pound-for-pound king, even despite the loss."

Catch Eugene Bareman's comments here: